A Southwestern Manitoba farmer is urging Canada to take a unified approach to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers that restrict the movement of agricultural products, including pork.
Trade obstacles between provinces have long been a concern for Canadian farmers, limiting efficiency and profitability. Bill Campbell, a Manitoba farmer and former Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) President, believes that the country must adopt a “Team Canada” approach to enhance competitiveness and strengthen the domestic market.
“The reality is that we continue to face red tape that makes it harder for producers to move goods across provincial borders,” said Campbell. “Agriculture is a national industry, and we need policies that reflect that.”
The pork industry, like many others, is impacted by fragmented regulations, processing constraints, and differing provincial standards that create inefficiencies. Campbell points out that harmonizing regulations and improving interprovincial trade could benefit Canadian farmers by reducing costs and expanding market access.
“We need policymakers to recognize that farmers are competing in a global marketplace,” he added. “By breaking down barriers within Canada, we can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance our overall competitiveness.”
Industry leaders and agricultural organizations have echoed these concerns, advocating for a streamlined regulatory framework that would allow producers to move their goods more freely between provinces. Such reforms could provide much-needed economic benefits to pork producers by creating a more predictable and transparent trade environment.
As discussions continue at the federal and provincial levels, Campbell and other farmers remain hopeful that policymakers will take action to support a stronger, more integrated agricultural industry in Canada.
Stay connected with Swine Web for more updates on policy changes and industry news impacting pork producers.
