Photo by Whitehorse Star
Ranj Pillai
Liberals plant the seeds for a stronger agricultural industry
The Yukon Liberal Party is trying to harvest some votes by appealing to the territorial agricultural community.
The Yukon Liberal Party is trying to harvest some votes by appealing to the territorial agricultural community.
In a news release issued last Friday, the party said “it believes that the agriculture sector is vital to the territory.
“We need to do more to ensure local food is available and that farmers are supported. That is why a re-elected Liberal government will continue to support our growing agriculture sector.”
“Yukon farmers are committed to Yukoners and we are committed to them,” said Liberal candidate Ranj Pillai.
“Maximizing local food purchases through procurement will be the main mission for an internal Yukon government team, a group we commit to forming within our first 100 days in office.
“The Yukon is evolving from small farms and market gardens to commercial food production operations, and we are committed to supporting them at this level because securing food production in the North is important to us all,” said Pillai.
In a news release, the party stated “understanding that we are seeing tremendous growth in the agriculture sector, it is now prudent for the Yukon government to modernize current legislative framework such as the Public Health and Safety Act in order to allow commercial level agriculture to flourish.
“This task force will also review current legislation and policies, and follow up with informed recommendations on how the government can help bolster the Yukon’s agriculture sector.”
The release also stated the party “will identify, develop and release land parcels suitable for agriculture, and we will work closely with the Yukon’s livestock producers to support the significant increase in demand for Yukon meat products.
“According to the 2016 census, there are 142 farms in the Yukon, producing hay, vegetables, field crops, berries, meats and value- added products, including preserves and cheese,” said Tracey Jacobs, the Liberal candidate for Lake Laberge.
“Many of these farms are in my riding, and the industrious people behind these farms never stop working. They are instrumental in the quest for a more localized and sustainable future.
“We want those in agriculture to know we support them,” Jacobs added.
“We all win when the agricultural sector is thriving.”
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (13)
Up 3 Down 3
Gunn on Apr 6, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Your Liberals helping to put food on the table.
Up 16 Down 0
marylaker on Apr 5, 2021 at 12:51 pm
FYI, this liberal government DID in fact introduce legislation to try to force Ag parcels to be used for agriculture first and foremost. The new law is that you must have $15,000 in Ag sales before you even think of applying for a secondary use or variance. I know it has some people concerned, too, because they had other plans. Now they have to actually do some farming before applying for their other plans.
Up 16 Down 0
marylaker on Apr 5, 2021 at 12:46 pm
How many acres have the usual suspects managed to obtain for free under agricultural land options? No more to them! You see the same names applying for land who have already received hundreds and hundreds of acres. Save what little is left in the Whitehorse area for the new generation of farmers.
Up 14 Down 1
Atom on Apr 3, 2021 at 5:46 pm
Every commenter is spot on in regard to Ag in the Yukon!
A small percentage of Ag land is actually being farmed, there is a lot of regulation governing food production, there are a lot of ideas for diversifying agriculture and there is a lot of folks with alternative ideas for agriculture.
But, let's look at the unused Ag land. The Liberals looked to try and encourage ag production in policy and regulation...but Every ag property owner in the Yukon is aghast they have to actually farm if they want to build a guest cabin.
The regulation governing food production is Federal!
Anyone looking to diversify agriculture is looking for money to do it! Free money, because 'how can I farm in the Yukon without a subsidy! It's The Yukon!
Is there marijuana growing in the Yukon?! Where? Federally governed legislation as well.
So to all who think the Liberals are just liars and have no substance or plan, just who do you think will Save us and Bring Agriculture to the Yukon? Certainly not the Ag Dept staff, they have a job, but that's not it.
Up 23 Down 3
iBrian on Apr 1, 2021 at 1:14 pm
The release also stated the party “will identify, develop and release land parcels suitable for agriculture,
Why not find out why all the current agricultural lands are under utilizated? Maybe start with that. There is a lot of AG land sitting empty. Others with houses all over them.
Up 33 Down 4
Try again on Apr 1, 2021 at 11:21 am
Ridiculous. This is intellectually bankrupt fluff. There's nothing concrete here. It's the same garbage they've been spouting for years, which has not led to any increased capacity. We don't need a "task force" to work through this. This is work you should have done already. You lot have had 5 years and all you've done is help your friends, most notably those in the business of marketing and cannabis.
The expertise is in the agricultural community, not the government. Why not bring this to the Yukon Agricultural Association instead of bloating government even further. Do you really think cushy government workers understand the life and business of a farmer?
"Maximizing local food purchases through procurement will be the main mission for an internal Yukon government team, a group we commit to forming within our first 100 days in office."
Seriously? What have they done with the last 1500 days in office? They really believe the lack of government procurement is what's holding back commercial viability of Yukon farms. Yikes. Does Ranj have any understanding of the plight of Yukon farmers? What good will government procurement do when people can't even sustain their farms because of rising costs or get to market because of lack of infrastructure? How about some REAL ideas? Like a food processing hub? Align levels of government so producers can get to market without thousands in costs due to regulation. Agriculture and culinary training for our youngsters.
We need to boot these people out before they make things WORSE than they already have.
Up 22 Down 10
Mike on Apr 1, 2021 at 7:46 am
Silver and his team of money spending puppets and promises fall on deaf ears. Nobody believes the liberals have researched any of their platform before their promises and money spending.
Assuming the rest of the Yukon is bliss to the fact not only do the liberals promise and then rescind said promise time and time again, lied, covered up, made excuses for and held nobody accountable.
Why Sandy Silver stands in front of everyone hoping to sell his liberal ideas to the rest of this Territory is embarrassing. Dear Sandy nobody gives a sh*t and nobody is buying your lies anymore.
Up 20 Down 7
BnR on Apr 1, 2021 at 6:39 am
Will Carter, the farmers advocate. Eye roll.
And to think he might have been our mayor.
Up 24 Down 8
Observer on Mar 31, 2021 at 9:55 pm
Wilf would you please stop voting for yourself on this site. God you didn't get that many votes in your last run for office!!
Up 15 Down 9
Debbie Last on Mar 31, 2021 at 8:29 pm
To say you are supporting agriculture and developing the Stevens Quarry in the same breath is an oxymoron.
Up 21 Down 4
DONOVAN MCGLAUGHLIN on Mar 31, 2021 at 5:30 pm
This is a fine and dandy promise that will never come. The Yukon Guberment will never get it right with farming. For one, they only recognize dirt farms. Hydroponic and aquaponic farms will NEVER receive support from them because it's not grown in dirt.
I have tried to apply for agricultural land that was substandard for dirt farming, to build a year-round aquaponic greenhouse. The guberments reply was that "because it's not grown in dirt, it's not agriculture.
Unless you have 100 acres of dirt to grow in, you are not even in the running for loans and grants here in the Yukon. This is bull because MOST farms in the Yukon are just small hobby and market farms. They will never reach the production required to sustain food reserves in the Yukon.
In order to do this the Guberment MUST be willing to partner with ALL types of farming. They must come up with a comprehensive plan to include ALL stakeholders. This not only includes farmers, but Doctors, business owners and the general public.
If the guberment were serious about agriculture we could in reality produce about 60% of the seasonal foods the Yukon requires. Just look at the city of Milwaukee WI. They came up with a plan and stuck to it. Now that city of 3/4 million people no longer has to import the basics of food survival. They grow all they need within 30 miles of the city. The same as the Aztecs and Mayans did with their cities of over 1 million people, 300 years ago.
The guberment there realized that you need ALL types of farming. Everything from full-scale production farms and livestock farms as well as water-based growing and community "victory" gardens.
They invested into ALL of these farming ideas and it has paid off in full. Milwaukee has the lowest prices for food out of all North American cities. Why? because they truly grow local in PARTNERSHIP with the producers.
Up 44 Down 17
Wilf Carter on Mar 31, 2021 at 2:19 pm
Ranj - What is a commercial farmer in the Yukon? How many have the land to be commercial farmer? How much does a commercial farmer have to produce in pounds to be rated to qualify for more land or some type of support? What is cold climate farming like northern Europe? What is the total cash value of farming in the Yukon? What is the total value of produce in Yukon? What is your government going to do to help farmers?
Your climate change plan would destroy all farming in the Yukon because of all the regulations. But you never even thought of that did you? Then you have the carbon tax that effects local farmers greatly on fertilizer, packaging, transportation of goods, using the equipment (because carbon tax is heavy on fuel used in equipment). What is the cost benefit analysis of farming in Yukon? You just don't see the real situation when it comes to farming. Or do you know all of the above challenges to farming in Yukon?!!!!
Up 45 Down 14
JSM on Mar 31, 2021 at 1:56 pm
If its up to the lieberals they will have farmers in the same position as those in India. I highly doubt in their support of agriculture.