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The Industry Competitiveness Branch provides
an advocacy role to ensure that BC farm interests are
considered in government programs, services, regulations and
international and inter-provincial trade negotiations and disputes;
and that these industries receive a fair share of federal funding.
The branch also facilitates industry-led research and market
development activities.
Objective: Increased
industry self-reliance and reduced dependence on government
funding.
Key Strategies
Support,
through various roles, a number of public-private
partnerships (3Ps), that will address B.C. agri-food
industry competitiveness issues through joint funding
initiatives.
1. Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF):
Pathfinder role for industry re: application process.
2. Agri-Food Futures Funds (AFFF): Lead/Rep for
MAFF on AFFF Advisory Committees.
3. Industry Trust Funds: Invited MAFF
representative on the boards of industry
trusts/councils.
4. Feeder Loan Guarantee Program: support the
establishment of B.C. Feeder associations.
Support the establishment and maintenance of
industry-managed councils and levy systems, under the Farm
& Fisheries Industries Development Act (FFIDA),
that allow industry to raise internal funds to address
industry competitiveness issues.
Provide youth capacity-building initiatives such as the
4H Partnership to build human resource skills and
self-reliance capacity.
Objective: Increased public and industry
access to information and expertise
Key Strategies: Provide Electronic Service
Delivery (ESD) of all MAFF information & services
(e-government) on a 24/7 basis.
Shift away from direct advisory services towards the
InfoBasket initiative for all industry sectors.
Provide Industry Profiles: for each industry sector.
Undertake Competitiveness Studies & Strategic
Analyses
1. Overall Industry
2. Sector Analyses
Undertake B.C. Agri-food Research Initiatives
1. Promote Agriculture Policy Framework (APF) Science & Innovation goals in
B.C.
2. Provide Coordination role for B.C. agri-food
research.
3 .Represent B.C. interests at Canadian
Agriculture Research Council (CARC).
Objective: Reduced negative impacts on the
sector from government regulation, taxes and policies.
Key Strategies: Examine all programs to reduce
excessive regulation.
Develop a broad agriculture sector strategy in
conjunction with Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
to remove impediments to agriculture sector economic
growth.
Work with other government agencies to develop a B.C.
Labour Market Adjustment Program for Seasonal Ag. Workers by
March 2003.
Undertake Advocacy Role with respect to:
1. Workers Compensation Board (WCB) Review
2. Employment Standards Act (ESA) Review
3. Energy costs review/initiative
4. Greater Vancouver Regional Development (GVRD)
Emissions Review
5. Ministry of Forest (MOF) Range Review
Support BCMAL Agriculture Regulatory Reform/Reduction
Initiatives
Ensure that the appropriate authorities, on a timely
basis, address complaints of the B.C. agri-food industry.
Organize industry consultations on competitiveness
issues.
1. Minister’s
Advisory Council on the Food Industry | 
