Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) pleased with Speech From the Throne

“As the voice of Canada’s food, health and consumer products manufacturers, FHCP welcomed the government’s Throne Speech and commitment to address some of the immediate challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Food, health and consumer product manufacturers’ extraordinary actions have been key to feeding and caring for Canadians throughout the pandemic period. For the past six months, the sector has experience unparalleled demands on its workforce and significant cost increases and other pressures that will influence the country’s economic recovery and its ability to prepare for future infection waves.

We are hopeful that the government’s commitment to help transition Canadians into the workforce via investments in training and incentives for employers will help to address the chronic labour gap in Canada’s largest manufacturing workforce. This was a key recommendation put forward by FHCP and we are pleased to see the government take action aimed at helping Canada reach its potential as a food and consumer goods manufacturing powerhouse.

In recognition of the costs incurred by Canadian businesses, we are pleased to see further steps taken to bridge vulnerable businesses and offer liquidity support; however, more work remains to be done in terms of helping our industry offset growing pandemic-related costs.

Today’s Throne Speech provided several additional positive measures including further recognition of the critical importance of the food industry, and the vital need to address food insecurity, strengthen local food supply chains and bolster domestic manufacturing. The commitment to expand virtual healthcare will help ensure better access for Canadians and help keep them safe and healthy during these difficult times. FHCP also applauds the government’s determination to recoup 1 million jobs lost in the pandemic. We look forward to working in partnership to transition Canadians into available jobs in the food, health and consumer products sector while building a resilient and stable supply chain that helps Canadians to weather the challenges of the future.”