A jar of jam can be labeled as “Product of British Columbia” so long as the berries from Mexico are processed in BC. It is very misleading.

Today here in Kamloops, I was proud to stand beside our BC Conservative Party leader, along with Michael Beauclair (candidate for Fraser-Nicola), and Graeme James (candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country).

Today, our party announced an important plank in our platform -- one which shows clear support to our agriculture and aquaculture industry. 

 

The announcement highlighted a branded communication program called My British Columbia" -- which includes incentive for British Columbians' here in the Thompson Nicola region --- and around the provide -- to buy and support local growers, ranchers, and fishers.

Here are some of the details of the "My British Columbia" program:

Provide families and businesses with a tax credit of up to $500 per year to encourage them to buy qualifying locally grown, raised, caught, or processed agri-food products at retailers, restaurants, and farmer’s markets across BC.

Provide operators across all levels of British Columbia’s agri-food value chain (growers, processors, fishers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, nurseries, schools, hospitals and agri-tourism operators) with the incentives and online branded collaterals necessary to proactively source and prominently feature locally grown, raised and processed agri-food products. 

Increase food security in British Columbia by celebrating the considerable investments made by agri-food operators that participate in and/or meet the exemplary standards set by existing certification bodies such as OceanWise, SPCA Certified, COABC and HealthCheck .  Future program recognitions may expand to include GMO labelling and biodiversity. 

And here is something we feel is very important to the success of this program -- and in ensuring that BC food producers can be supported:

"My British Columbia" will define a British Columbia product as any product that is 100% grown, raised or caught within British Columbia.  Agri-food products processed outside of British Columbia may qualify under this definition, provided that the primary ingredient(s) of these products are 100% grown, raised and/or caught within British Columbia.  

Other parties define a BC product as any product that is majority (51%) grown, raised, caught and/or processed in British Columbia.  

This means that a jar of jam can be labelled as “Product of British Columbia” so long as the berries from Mexico are processed in BC. It is very misleading. 

"My British Columbia will also commit to ongoing research and industry consultation to acknowledge how important agriculture is to British Columbia.

I was proud to stand beside our leader and hear him say ... "Agriculture is an important part of B.C.’s past and present, and we must ensure it remains key to B.C.’s future." 

Help us make this, and the many other common sense policy and platform ideas become realty.

Let's 'stay sharp' Kamloops. 

I'm Peter Sharp -- I'm a BC Conservative -- and I Believe in BC!