“Farmers Feed Cities” is a slogan many of us are familiar with, especially as we travel the roads of Ontario, but I sometimes wonder if we really take the time to consider how the slogan affects our every day lives.

All of us understand how important agriculture is to the Canadian economy. It is after all an $80 billion a year industry that directly or indirectly employs more than 2.3 million Canadians and represents about eight percent of our GDP, (Gross Domestic Product).

We are blessed in Canada to have an abundant, safe and secure food supply that is relatively affordable. Statistics Canada says that food costs represent just 10 percent of our annual income. Canadians enjoy one of the lowest costs of food to income ratios in the world. Canadian farmers are among the worlds most innovative and technologically advanced which simply means that not only are Canadian Farmers feeding Canadians, they are now exporting around the world especially as trade barriers are being removed and markets expand. This should serve as a reminder to both consumers and government of agriculture’s importance, and the responsibility we all have to make sure Canadian farmers can continue to do what they do better than anyone else in the world.

From time to time some may question the level of government support provided to the agriculture industry and in this regard I am reminded of the cyclical nature of farming. Foreign competition, a rising dollar, bad weather and ever-changing consumer preferences are just some of the issues that adversely affect farmers. What government support does is to ensure consumers do not experience dramatic price fluctuations at the grocery store check out. Ongoing government support, particularly for those sectors of the agriculture industry experiencing cyclical challenges means Canadians will continue to have access to safe, secure and affordable food. And I would add the government has the same responsibility with other sectors of the Canadian economy, and that is why we have programs to support innovation, research and development and tax policies which help all Canadians compete with the world.

As consumers we need to recognize both the advantages and disadvantages of global trade policies. On the up side, Canadian farmers have benefited significantly as trade barriers have been reduced and developing markets for Canadian agriculture products have emerged. Of course the great challenge for government is that in exchange for those markets, we have to reciprocate by opening Canadian markets to foreign produced products.  Our commitment to Supply management on the other hand provides Canadian consumers with safe, secure and fair-priced dairy and poultry products everyday of the year.

However as consumers we do have a choice in the products we buy, and that is why I believe it is important for all of us to become dedicated “label readers” and purchase Canadian or even preferably, locally made products wherever and whenever possible. Recently our government introduced measures to help us do just that so we can be sure when a label says “Made in Canada” the product is in fact Canadian made.

Now, less someone think that I am showing a partiality to farmers, I believe the same holds true for the cars we buy, the clothes we wear or any of the hundreds of other consumer products we enjoy. In saying that I think we sometimes take for granted our obligations as citizens of the greatest country on the earth.

Citizenship has a price. Canadians enjoys a standard of living that is second to none in the world and this is reflected in the values we hold dear - things like our healthcare, our education and our freedom just to name a few. And on a personal level I think we all understand that when we buy Canadian made products, we support the jobs of our friends, families and neighbours, which without, Canada would just not be Canada.

So let’s all read those labels and when we know a Canadian product is produced but not available where we shop, then we need to tell those businesses we prefer “Canadian Made.”