PEI Groups will make the case for "Family Farms NOT Factory Farms"
April 16, 2004
Charlottetown- Representatives form National Farmers' Union, The Canadian Organic Growers Association, Earth Action, and as well as Council of Canadians and others will call upon government of PEI and Canada to pledge their support for family farming in the face of increasing pressure from factory farms in Canada.
PEI hog producers are faced with low prices due to over production in factory farms in other provinces and US states. Bird Flu is devastating chicken producers in BC. The closed border due to Mad Cow is impoverishing Canada's cattle farmers. Mega hog barns on the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, and mini-factory farms on PEI are putting hog farmers out of business.
Clearly, the "Get big or get out" policies that resulted in concentration of livestock production are policies that are creating crises and hardship and threatening the log-term viability of Canada's food production system.
On Friday, April 16, citizens across the country will be telling provincial and federal agriculture ministers: "Family Farms NOT Factory Farms!" A recent IPOSOS-Reed Poll shows that 89% of Canadians want provincial and federal government support to go to environmentally-friendly family farms and not large corporate farms.
The Beyond Factory Farming Coalition, made up of national, provincial, and local organizations that represent thousands of Canadians, is calling up governments to do just that.
The PEI Groups will hold a press conference at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 16 in front of Province House, Richmond Street, Charlottetown where they will kick off the "Family Farms NOT Factory Farms" campaign with the question: Do you know where the meat YOU eat comes from?
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For more information, please contact: Leo Broderick, Council of Canadians 902-894-4874