/EINPresswire.com/ -- CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/22/16 -- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today issued the following statement regarding the annual conference of federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture.

"I attended my first annual conference with provincial and territorial Ministers of agriculture this week in Calgary, Alberta. Over the two day conference, we had productive discussions and reached common ground on a number of key areas.

We issued the Calgary Statement, which was developed by FPT governments and outlines the key priority areas for the next agricultural policy framework, set to launch in April 2018. We also renewed our commitment to work with stakeholders to ensure a strong and growing sector in the coming years which will help grow the middle class.

The Canadian agriculture sector generates over $108B for the Canadian economy and is the single largest employer of all manufacturing sectors - providing jobs to one in eight Canadians. We want to make sure farmers and processors can continue to take advantage of new global market opportunities. By doing so, we're also supporting Canada's economy and the middle class, which includes farmers and processors.

I look forward to continued collaboration with my provincial and territorial counterparts to build an even better agricultural sector for all Canadians and the economy."

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Contacts:
Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
The Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972