Five-point agricultural strategy

While campaigning on April 10 in Acton Vale, QC, Stephen Harper promised that a Conservative government would assist farmers with a five-point plan, originally laid out in the 2011 budget:

-A two-year Agricultural Innovation Initiative to support knowledge creation and transfer, and to increase commercialization of agricultural innovations.

-A management and monitoring strategy to contain and prevent the spread of plum pox.

-An extended strategy for disease control in the hog industry.

-Ensuring that the Agri-Québec program is afforded the same tax treatment that is currently provided to the federal AgriInvest program.

-Increasing the budget of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for five years to improve food inspection capacity.

In addition, Harper promised to increase funding for the Market Access Secretariat and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.