In June, Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay responded to e-petition 4909, which called for bold policies and strategic investments to grow the organic sector and enhance its contribution to sustainable, resilient food systems. Championed by MP Alistair MacGregor and supported by nearly 1,600 Canadians, the petition sought a stronger government commitment to organic farming.
We appreciate the government’s recognition that:
- Ensuring Canadians have access to affordable, sustainably produced food is a priority.
- Organic agriculture supports the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy (SAS) goals by promoting soil health.
- Financial resources like the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) can potentially benefit organic producers.
- Investments in organic research and innovation are vital to sector growth and benefit the agriculture sector as a whole.
However, the response falls short in several key areas:
- The government did not commit to any specific new policies or initiatives to expand organic production, focusing instead on existing programs.
- There was no commitment to develop a strategic policy for organic food and farming, a significant gap given the petition’s central call for a coordinated national approach.
- The response does not differentiate between organic and non-organic methods in funding programs, missing the opportunity and need to provide targeted support for organic farmers.
- There was no direct address of measures to make organic food more affordable and accessible to all, beyond recognition of general food security efforts.
While the response acknowledges the importance of organic farming, it lacks the bold, specific actions needed and requested to grow the domestic organic supply and make organic food more accessible. We will continue to advocate for a strategic policy framework to protect and expand organic farming in Canada.