Friday December 10, 2021 | ABBOTSFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
A tour of flood-impacted farms was undertaken today December 10 in the Abbotsford area by Lana Popham, BC’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, and Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
They saw an Abbotsford poultry farm in various stages of flood recovery.
Flooding by rivers (causing the breakage of dikes as well) occurred from “atmospheric river” rainfall on November 14 to 15. The excessive rainfall was in the Environment Canada forecast.
“We are still in the middle of this emergency,” said Popham in her opening remarks during a media session just ahead of noon today.
On the ground:
Their tour included seeing a greenhouse in which all the plants were covered by “concrete-like mud”. Nevertheless, one jade plant had managed to produce two sprouts since the mid-November flood.
Minister Popham asked permission to clip one of those, to take back to Victoria as a reminder of what needs to be done for farmers.
The provincial-federal cooperation in agriculture farm-and-farmer recovery was the key focus of the tour. A short media event followed, with only media on the ground. Remote listening was made available (no Q&A or livestream for remote media).
Both Popham and Bibeau took questions on the ground (not all questions could be heard, and were not repeated back by the speaker if such was the case).
Communication and relationships:
Minister Popham has, for weeks, kept emphasizing how compassionate and aware people need to be about the plight of farmers has been as a result of the floods. Popham also regularly emphasizes the importance of relationships with farmers and their businesses, and also between province and federal government.
Popham seeks to impress with her Rolodex, always mentioning how she’s had long and often emotional conversations with people she can contact as a result of relationship-building over the years since she was first launched as Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister within the Horgan government in summer 2017.
She may, in fact, not realize how aware people already are of the importance of maintaining food security. But this is her moment to shine that issue upon the public discourse during these times that are challenged by evident climate change.
Marie-Claude Bibeau in March 2019 became the first woman in Canadian history to be appointed federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Along with the BC growing resion flooding impacts, she is presently also dealing with the block on PEI potatoes being sold in the US due to a perceived problem with this year’s crop.
Bibeau noted how today she has seen with her own eyes the scale of impact on businesses, animals, and homes, families and communities in the flood-impacted area. She was impressed with how the impacted people “still found the strength to help each other”. She was impacted by the water being “so high” and that the flooding “lasted so long”.
Popham said that today’s visit by Minister Bibeau in BC has “solidified the partnership and our resolution to help people as soon as possible”.
Food security:
Farmers have been feeding British Columbians for years, and now it’s “our turn” to have their backs, said Popham.
Especially with rising food prices now — resulting not only from COVID pandemic economic impacts but now also the flooding having destroyed production of things like dairy, eggs and produce farming, Canadians are quite aware of the impacts of climate change on food security.
Food prices will climb by five to seven per cent in 2022, adding nearly $1,000 a year to the grocery bill of the average family of four, according to estimates from the latest edition of Canada’s Food Price Report released on Thursday.
Food security has been a strong plank of Popham’s broad and attentive approach to agriculture for the past four years. Her riding is South Saanich here on Vancouver Island. She was an early leader in developing organic vineyards. The Saanich Peninsula includes a prominent growing area of the province, including for fruits and vegetables.
Animal feed:
On the livestock side, there will be a problem with feed supply (including the cost) that “will continue through the year,” said Popham today.
But she noted a “good relationship with the Port of Vancouver” as to helping keep the feed supply chain moving.
“The feed issue is in hand,” Popham concluded.
Next steps:
“Those conversations still have to happen,” said Popham, with regard to whether farmers rebuild on site or move to higher ground.
The Sumas Prairie used to be Sumas Lake (about 100 years ago) and nature obviously sought to reclaim it.
“We’re looking toward the future” and she wants farmers to “feel safe”, said Popham with regard to rebuilding dikes. Disaster funding support is already in place.
“We are focussed on the immediate needs” of farmers, at this time, she pointed out in today’s media session.
===== RELATED:
Food supply stable as flood-impacted agriculture recovers (Nov 30, 2021)
Produce supply impacted by floods in BC southwest, livestock lost (Nov 25, 2021)
Nov 20: BC emergency update on flood-impacted areas (Nov 20, 2021)
Flood-recovery financial assistance: residents, business, local govt, Indigenous communities, farmers & charitable organizations (Nov 18, 2021)
Food Day BC: an opportunity to promote home-grown produce (July 31, 2021)