Liberal Plan Will Promote Sustainable, Healthy Primary Industries

Murray River, April 8 – Our province’s core economic sectors will be fully supported in a way that encourages job growth under the new Liberal plan, says Liberal Leader Wade MacLauchlan.

“Decades of hard work, dedication and innovation have built our Island’s world-renowned reputation for high-quality and sustainable food products,” MacLauchlan said.

“The Liberal plan for agriculture and fisheries will build on that track record in a way that encourages well-paid and rewarding jobs.”

The Liberal proposals for these two sectors include:

• Expansion of the very successful Team Seafood and PEI Farm Team initiatives – which assists students with employment opportunities and bursary assistance
• Establishment of a Food Island Export Program to help harvesters and processors expand markets
• A renewal and expansion of crop insurance programs to help mitigate risk and promote predictability
• A new $1 million fund through crop insurance to assist with practices designed to improve soil health
• Assist farmers and fishers by providing the tools they need to tackle climate change
• New investments in aquaculture to ensure environmental and economic sustainability

“Our farmers and fishers are very concerned with environmental issues, and the encouragement of sustainable practices,” said Liberal District 4 Candidate Ian MacPherson.

“For that reason, I am very pleased with the Liberal government’s strong stance against a large corporation’s plan to use the Northumberland Strait as a destination for industrial effluent. Our lobster fishery is too healthy and too important to take any risks – and I commend the Premier for his position on this matter.

“Additionally, I want to congratulate Islanders on their strong leadership in eliminating single-use plastics and other forms of wasteful packaging.”

The Liberal Platform also proposes to build on a strong commitment to a sustainable environment and clean energy through proposals that include:

• Make Prince Edward Island a national leader in banning single-use plastics and other forms of disposable packaging
• Invest $8 million over the next four years on a shoreline protection initiative to assess, map and respond to flood risk
• Invest in new public electric vehicle charging stations and provide tax rebates for the purchase and installation of home charging stations
• Invest $1 million in new reforestation to assist in carbon sequestration
• Develop and implement a solar electric incentive for Island homeowners to help reduce GHG emissions and reduce electricity consumption

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Media Contact:
Mary Moszynski
media@liberalpei.ca
Phone: 902-393.8534
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