Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the Canadian beef producers as of January 1, 2010, cattle inventories are at their lowest in 15 years and hog inventories at their lowest in 12 years. 

Last year the Alberta livestock and meat strategy and agency received over $100 million in government funding, with a similar amount estimated for the next year.

To the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: how can the minister deem this an effective use of these dollars while the industry continues to deteriorate?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, ALMA, that was just referred to, is an agency that has just started up, and we’re already seeing good results from that agency. A lot of their work is the promotion and working toward new markets globally, which are going to be very necessary. The industries that the hon. member opposite spoke about: about 50 per cent of our market needs to be global, outside of our boundaries, and about 50 per cent domestic. But we did experience an economic correction globally that has been very difficult on all industries.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Pastoor: Thank you. You’ve partly answered my next question, but I would like a little bit more. This government keeps throwing money at the industry, but the real problems are structural. Besides writing cheques, what plans does the minister have to meet the ongoing challenges that are facing the Alberta livestock industries?

Mr. Hayden: Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t disagree more. I would not characterize the support to the agriculture industry, that is our largest renewable resource industry and our second largest industry in the province, as throwing money at an industry. I would say that that’s investing in Alberta’s future.

Ms Pastoor: Clever semantics.

When the government made check-offs voluntary, they were acting in the interest of the big beef producers at the expense of small family ranchers. How is this ministry helping our regular Alberta beef and hog producers as they attempt to compete in an industry that appears to have turned into a near monopoly?

Mr. Hayden: Mr. Speaker, all parts of the value chain are important. As I’ve stated to a number of the groups that I’ve spoken with and where I’ve spoken publicly since being appointed minister for this ministry, the primary producers are of utmost importance. Without the primary producers the rest of the value chain collapses. All portions of that value chain need to be profitable and healthy, and we’re working towards that.

Alberta Hansard, February 17, 2010

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