Latest news with #LawrenceMacAulay
CBC
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
P.E.I.'s newest federal cabinet minister humbled and privileged to accept post
Heath MacDonald was sworn in this week as Canada's agriculture and agri-food minister in Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet, a portfolio last held by longtime Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay. CBC's Cody MacKay spoke with the MacDonald to find out how he plans to make the role his own.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I.'s Heath MacDonald says he wants to 'raise the bar' as Canada's agriculture minister
Social Sharing Newly appointed Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald says he's humbled and privileged to be named to the federal portfolio. The Liberal MP for P.E.I.'s central riding of Malpeque is the lone voice for the province in Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet, sworn in Tuesday. "A lot of emotions run through your mind," MacDonald told CBC News on Wednesday about learning he would be appointed to the post. "You want to do the best job possible for Islanders, of course, and Canadians as a whole." The agriculture portfolio was previously held by former P.E.I. MP Lawrence MacAulay, first from 2015 to 2019, and then again from 2023 until March this year. The Agriculture and Agri-Food mandate is a broad one that interacts with various sectors and regions, MacDonald said. "You have to work closely with the other departments and those ministers and ensure that they fully understand that the decisions that they're making could have an impact on agriculture right across the country," he said, adding that Carney's downsized cabinet will allow for closer collaboration between members. Moving quickly While the ministerial mandate has not yet been released, MacDonald said his primary focus will be on trade. "We need to diversify our trade as quickly as possible, we need to remove our regulatory burdens on the industries and sectors that we're dealing with and we need to continue to invest in innovation and technology," he said. "We need to work on those as promptly and quickly as possible to ensure that we are competitive in a global market." Having previously served as P.E.I.'s finance minister, MacDonald said he understands the need for government to be fiscally responsible. "We have to advance the economy as quickly as possible and I think Mr. Carney, with his background, is certainly the one to do that." Addressing farmers' concerns This week, the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture raised concerns about how the Canadian Food Inspection Agency operates, saying CFIA's risk-management policies can often make it more difficult for Island producers to export thier food. Wednesday, MacDonald said the agency plays an important role. "You can't live with them and you can't live without them. It's extremely important to ensure the safety of our food," he said, noting that countries that import Canadian food view the CFIA as a safety net. At the same time, the new minister said he would like to see more efficient processes put in place to reduce the burden. "The bureaucracy is the bureaucracy, but we need to expedite it," he said. "We are in a time in this country that we've never seen before, so we all need to be shoulder to shoulder and working in the same direction." Tariffs on Canadian goods imposed by the United States are another major concern for the agriculture and agri-food industry, the P.E.I. Potato Board told CBC News on Tuesday. Several cabinet committees will be struck to address those concerns, MacDonald said, noting that he will be sitting on some of them. He said his aim is to ensure that farmers across the country in every market are considered, and that ministers understand the importance of the agriculture and agri-food sector for P.E.I. and across Canada. 'We're all in this' MacDonald said he will work in the interests of all Canadians, regardless of who they voted for in the April 28 federal election. "Once you get to this place and time, you put that behind you and you work with everybody," he said. "Put partisan politics aside…. We're all in this. When they succeed, I succeed." As he takes on his new portfolio, MacDonald said he has plans to transform the file over the course of his mandate. "You keep having to raise the bar, you know, and raise the profile of this sector," he said.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. has voice in federal cabinet again as Heath MacDonald named agriculture minister
Malpeque MP takes over P.E.I. cabinet responsibility from retired Lawrence MacAulay Prince Edward Island once again has representation at the federal cabinet table. Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Malpeque MP Heath MacDonald as Canada's new minister of agriculture and agri-food Tuesday. As usual, he will be the sole voice for Canada's smallest province in the federal cabinet. It first became clear that MacDonald was in the cabinet at about 10:30 a.m. AT, when he was spotted walking with other cabinet members to Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada's governor-general. About an hour and a half later, his specific portfolio was announced. MacDonald is a former provincial finance minister who has held Malpeque for the Liberals since 2021. He was re-elected in the April 28 general election with 57.6 per cent of the vote in the central P.E.I. riding. The agriculture portfolio was previously held by former P.E.I. MP Lawrence MacAulay, first from 2015 to 2019, and then again from 2023 until March this year. The Malpeque riding was previously represented by Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who was Canada's Solicitor General from 2002 to 2003, and then from 2004 to 2006 served as parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, with a special emphasis on rural development. Minister urged to address issues Rita Jackson, a district director for the National Farmers Union on P.E.I., said she hopes MacDonald will take on some of the pressing issues facing the province's farming community, including the loss of farmland. "At the current rate, we will have lost half of our farming land by 2050. Now, 2050 is only 25 years away. It's nothing. It goes by in the blink of an eye," she told CBC News Tuesday afternoon. Jackson said it's also important for the federal government to support new and aspiring farmers, who face high barriers to entry, especially when it comes to the cost of land. "If you want to buy a smallish farm... let's say 120 acres, the asking price is $1 million. Now, if you get a $1 million mortgage to buy your farm over 25 years at 5 per cent, it's going to cost you just a little bit under $70,000 a year. How are you going to make $70,000 a year farming?" Jackson, who is also a farmer herself, said the government should consider offering more financial support to farmers, such as a basic income tied to sustainable agricultural practices like improving soil health, planting trees and protecting water and wildlife. "We as farmers do all of that, and we're not compensated for it," she said. While Jackson said she looks forward to seeing what MacDonald will do in his new role, she noted she hasn't had much luck getting in touch with him so far, even though he's her MP. "I've called him on a number of occasions about different things, and I've never spoken to him. He never called back," she said. "Well, Heath, first of all, I want you to give me a call. Call me back. You've got my number. I've left at least 15 messages about various things."
CBC
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. back in federal cabinet with Heath MacDonald named agriculture minister
Prince Edward Island once again has representation at the federal cabinet table. Malpeque MP Heath MacDonald was appointed Canada's new Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Tuesday morning. It first became clear that MacDonald was in the cabinet at about 10:30 a.m. AT, when he was spotted walking with other cabinet members to Rideau Hall. It wasn't until about an hour and a half later that his specific portfolio was publicly announced. MacDonald has held Malpeque for the Liberals since 2021. He was re-elected on April 28 with 57.6 per cent of the vote. The agriculture portfolio was previously held by former P.E.I. MP Lawrence MacAulay, first from 2015 to 2019, and then again from 2023 until March this year.
Associated Press
28-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Minister MacAulay announces over $116 million to help farmers adopt clean technologies
SPRING VALLEY, PE, Feb. 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced more than $116 million under the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program. This funding will support 119 projects across Canada that will help keep farmers on the cutting edge with clean technologies. Earlier today, Minister MacAulay, alongside Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, visited Atlantic Grown Organics, a family-owned certified organic produce farm in Spring Valley, Prince Edward Island. The farm was previously approved for funding of up to $126,014 under the Adoption Stream of the ACT Program for the design and installation of a dual curtain energy retention system around the heated areas of the greenhouse. This system uses two curtains to create an air gap between them, which acts as insulation and helps to reduce energy loss, making heating and cooling more efficient. As part of the latest round announced today, three projects on Prince Edward Island are approved for ACT Program funding: Indian River Farms, a family-run beef farm in Charlottetown, will receive up to $1,736,979 under the Adoption Stream to purchase precision agriculture technology; Vanco Flowers, a tulip producer in Mount Albion, will receive up to $782,696 under the Adoption Stream to install a biomass heating system; and Bonus Consulting, a company that helps food processors focus on best practices in Clyde River, will receive up to $15,166 under the Research and Innovation Stream to research alternatives to sanitize processing facilities. These are three of 14 projects supported to date on Prince Edward Island, representing a total of more than $6 million. The Government of Canada will continue to support the research, development and adoption of clean technology to help the sector reduce emissions and adapt to the realities of climate change. Quote 'Our farmers care deeply about the land and they're always looking for innovative ways to reduce their emissions and make their operations more sustainable. Our investment in the Agricultural Clean Technology Program will help them stay on the cutting edge, so they can continue to feed Canadians and the world.' - The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Quick Facts The ACT Program provides farmers and agri-businesses funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost their long-term competitiveness. The program is focused on three priority areas: green energy and energy efficiency; precision agriculture; and bioeconomy solutions. To date, 534 projects have been announced under the ACT Program, totaling up to more than $314 million across Canada. Announced today, through the ACT – Adoption Stream, 99 approved projects will support the adoption of clean technologies, with a priority on those that meaningfully reduce GHG emissions. Through the ACT – Research and Innovation Stream, 20 approved projects will support pre-market innovation including research, development, demonstration and commercialization of agricultural clean technologies. Projects and final funding are subject to negotiation of a contribution agreement. Through the ACT Program, current GHG emissions are expected to be reduced by up to 0.8 megaton as a result of the development and adoption of clean technology in the agriculture sector.
