March 19, 2019 – Today, the government of Canada released its 2019 Budget, “Investing in the Middle Class.” FCPC is pleased to see within the pre-election budget, measures to adopt a Food Policy for Canada, as well as help to boost Canadians’ job skills.

We are very pleased to see the government announce $134.4 million over five years to develop a National Food Policy, which includes support for agri-food value added production in Canada, improving access to affordable food, launching a Buy Canadian promotion campaign, reducing food waste, promoting exports and helping fight food fraud. FCPC has been actively engaged with government in developing a Food Policy for Canada and we look forward to reviewing all of the details once they become available.

In response to job vacancies across the country and many employers struggling to hire people with the right skills, we are pleased to see the government announce the Canada Training Credit to provide Canadians with funding to help pay for training courses. The budget also proposes a new benefit, administered through employment insurance,  that will give Canadians up to four weeks of income support every four years.

“A recent survey of FCPC membership identified lack of access to skilled labour as one of several key challenges impacting our sector,” explains Michael Graydon, CEO, FCPC. “Today’s announcement is clearly a step in the right direction, however, there remains much to do if we are to ensure that we have the right business environment to help manufacturers invest and grow here in Canada and compete globally.” 

We are pleased to see the government reiterate their commitment to make regulatory efficiency and economic growth a permanent part of regulators’ mandates.  We welcome the government moving forward with their regulatory modernization commitments and would like to be part of their new External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness once it is established.   

We are encouraged to see that the government is committing to uphold the important measures of the Fall Economic Update with regards to the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance and export supports.  These measures will help grow our sector and keep jobs in Canada.

We look forward to further collaborating with the government to grow the food, beverage and consumer product industry in Canada and build a more innovative, competitive and inclusive economy. 

Food processing is the largest employer in the manufacturing sector in Canada, providing Canadians with high-quality jobs in over 6,000 manufacturing facilities. Canada’s food and consumer product manufacturers employ more than the automotive and aerospace sectors combined, directly employing nearly 300,000 Canadians from coast to coast, contributing nearly $29 billion annually to the country’s economy and providing safe, high-quality products that are found in virtually every single home in Canada. Our membership is truly national, providing value-added jobs to urban and rural Canadians in most federal ridings in every region of the country.