Happy World Food Day 2015!
October 16 is World Food Day, the theme of this year is Social Protection and Agriculture - breaking the cycle of world poverty. This theme is the heart of the NFU's work and is reflected in our day-to-day work, through our commitment to food sovereignty and the new strategic plan for the next three years.
In New Brunswick, there are many opportunities to learn more about the issues, be engaged and to celebrate the good work that people and communities are undertaking here in our province!
- World March for Women, Saturday, October 17, from 11 am - 3 pm in Fredericton
- Canadian Federal Election, Monday, October 19, 2015
- No Land, No Food, No Life. Film screening with Cinema Politica Fredericton. Friday, October 23 at 7:30 pm at 180 St. John St., Fredericton
- World Food Day Dinner, Potluck celebration, organized by Ferme Terre Partagée. Saturday, October 24 at 5 pm, Centre Communautaire Pleasant Ridge, Rogersville
- Growing Community and Sharing the Harvest, NBFSAN Bi-ennial Conference. Monday, October 26 & Tuesday, October 27, Rodd River Resort, Miramichi. Registration still open!
Enjoy reading the updates below and if you have events, articles or ideas you would like to share in our news e-news, contact info@nfunb.org.
In Union,
Amanda Wildeman, Executive Director |
News
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World Food Day 2015
“World Food Day serves as a reminder of our international commitment to work toward world-wide food security and social justice for food producers,” said Jan Slomp, National Farmers Union (NFU) President. “Canada hosted the first FAO meeting. Today, seventy years later, Canada has taken a great leap backward with the current government’s support for trade deals like CETA and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), international treaties that, if ratified, will do irreparable harm to Canada’s food system and prevent future governments from building a more just and ecologically sound approach to food and agriculture.” [Read the full press release here]
Watch the video by the FAO to learn more about how social protections are helping farmers and rural families around the world.
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The NFU weighs in on the TPP
TPP sets stage for 10-year phase-out of Canadian dairy, Harper puts taxpayer on the hook to cover cost, says NFU
Press Release (Oct. 5, 2015) The National Farmers Union (NFU) denounces the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would severely damage Canada’s supply managed sectors – dairy, chicken, turkey and eggs – and provide illusory market gains for other agriculture sectors such as beef, pork, grain and oilseeds. Today, all supply managed farmers earn their livelihood from the marketplace, but the TPP will deny them the ability to fully serve Canadian consumers. The government’s promised compensation to dairy producers for their losses will be borne by the taxpayer.
The other 11 TPP countries would gain tariff-free access to 3.25 per cent of Canada’s current dairy market, 2.3 per cent for eggs, 2.1 per cent for chicken, two per cent for turkey and 1.5 per cent for broiler hatching eggs. [Read the complete press release here] |
Request for proposals for Crown Land for wild blueberry production
The NFU-NB attended the information sessions conducted by DAAF on Sept. 29 & 30 to hear producer concerns about the process. Producers expressed concern about the current application process and if there is any way for producers to get confirmation that their application meets the 80% requirement before the November 23 deadline. During the information sessions producers were told that this was not possible in order for it to remain an open and transparent process. The NFU-NB has requested that the Department provide support or feedback to producers in drafting their business plans so that producers can feel confident that they meet the 80% minimum. Stay tuned for more details.
Some producers voiced their outstanding concerns about the lease of 15,000 acres of Crown lands to Oxford Frozen Foods in 2013 and the effects this may have on the blueberry industry, though the DAAF staff was unable to comment on previous lease agreements.
To access the RFP documents you must create a profile on the NB Opportunities Network.
If you have any questions, please contact Amanda (506) 260-0087). |
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Elections 2015 - Vote October 19!
This Monday, October 19 is election day - get out and make your voice heard.
Read up on how each party plans to support food and agriculture:
Food Secure Canada has asked the five federal parties to respond to a questionnaire on the priorities in their Eat Think Vote campaign. The Bloc, the Green Party, the Liberals and the NDP all responded in favour of a national food strategy. The Conservative Party did not respond.
Read their thoughts on the Support for New Farmers Pillar of the campaign. |
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