Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that Growing Forward 2 recognize that the prosperity of the agriculture and agri-food sector depends on the sector’s ability to take advantage of international and domestic market trends; and that the strategic framework focus on programs that improve competitiveness, such as innovation and trade.

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada conduct an analysis of its practices and administrative policies in order to determine whether any has the potential to impede collaboration among the various research bodies, and that it propose ways of removing those impediments.

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that Growing Forward 2 include support for the commercialization and adaptation of innovation, similar to  the current Agricultural Innovation Program, or other fiscally  responsible incentives.

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommends that the Agri-Science Clusters Initiative be renewed and that the rules be amended so that the direction of a given project can be changed and funds can be reallocated from one period to another.

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that the Developing Innovative  Agri-Products Initiative be renewed and that a program like the Agricultural Flexibility Fund be included in Growing Forward 2 as an alternate and flexible source of funding to facilitate short- and long-term research on emerging issues that may involve one or  more commodities.

Recommendation 6

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada simplify the administrative and accountability procedures of its research and innovation support programs by implementing a system of appropriate audits and ensuring that the rules are applied consistently to all research institutions.

Recommendation 7

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada increase the Market Access Secretariat’s budget in order to increase the secretariat’s capability to solve market access problems encountered by the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

Recommendation 8

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada consider the feasibility of transforming the generic component of the AgriMarketing Program into a multi-year export support program modeled after the International Pork Marketing Fund.

Recommendation 9

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the industry jointly explore a more effective procedure for analyzing files submitted under the AgriMarketing Program for small and medium-sized businesses.

Recommendation 10

The Committee recommends that Growing Forward 2 include a support program for the development and implementation of national marketing strategies developed, for example, by the Value Chain Round Tables.

Recommendation 11

The Committee recommends that programs be incorporated into Growing Forward 2 that would help the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector adapt to and meet consumer demands.

Recommendation 12

The Committee recommends that the government seek to achieve food safety regulation equivalency with trading partners, develop processes to increase regulatory compatibility, and recognize scientific  evidence from other countries where appropriate and meeting  Canadian standards.

Recommendation 13

The Committee recommends that Growing Forward 2 include specific support programs for new entrants in agriculture, for continuous training and learning and for organizations that promote and deliver farm management consulting services.

Recommendation 14

The Committee recommends that the government report to the Committee on the actions it has taken subsequent to the report on the rail freight services review.

Recommendation 15

The Committee recommends that the government investigate the current condition of the existing fleet of Canadian grain rail cars, and begin to plan for updating the current fleet with a more modern rail car that will increase the efficiency and productivity of the government’s rail car fleet while decreasing the overall environmental footprint.

Recommendation 16

The Committee recommends that the government continue to support the supply management system by defending it in trade negotiations.

Recommendation 17

The Committee recommends that the business risk management suite of programs of Growing Forward 2 respect the principles of transparency, simplicity, timely payments, market neutrality and nationwide equality, and better reflect the needs of farmers.

Recommendation 18

The Committee recommends that AgriStability be reviewed with the provinces and territories following the principles enunciated in recommendation 16.

Recommendation 19

The Committee recommends that AgriRecovery’s disaster relief framework include a clear and meaningful definition of “disaster” with specific criteria so that relief can be delivered consistently across  the country.

Recommendation 20

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada study the possibility of establishing price insurance programs across the country.

Recommendation 21

The Committee recommends that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada review the Advance Payments Program to consider the possibility of providing more flexible repayment options.