Honourable senators, I rise today to highlight Canada’s sixth annual Agriculture Day, which takes place tomorrow on February 22. Since 2016, this annual celebration marks a time to engage in and support discourse around Canada’s agricultural community and the important role it plays in our domestic food supply chain.

First and foremost, tomorrow’s event celebrates our agricultural and agri-food industry, as well as the pride we share in growing food, but it also presents an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the producer and consumer. I am immensely proud of our agricultural community, especially in light of the challenges agricultural workers have all faced over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have adapted quickly, worked to keep their employees safe and healthy, kept our grocery store shelves full and continued to support vulnerable members of our communities by donating their products to those in need.

While tomorrow is a time to celebrate this historic industry, it is also a time to reflect on and consider the challenges currently facing Canada’s agricultural sector. As many of you know, I have previously called attention to the challenges facing the agricultural community — from labour shortages to the work required to make the industry greener and more sustainable. Across the board, it is clear our farmers, producers, processors and everyone involved along the supply chain are working tirelessly to ensure they can overcome these challenges and continue feeding not only Canadians but the world. However, it is also clear that they need our support. Canada’s Agriculture Day represents an opportunity to learn how we can offer that support to our farmers and to thank them for their dedication to their land, their livestock and our communities.

That being said, I encourage you to take the time to thank the hard-working individuals of the Canadian agriculture and agri‑food industry every day, since without them, we would not have the same access to the safe, nutritious food that we do today.

Honourable colleagues, the organizers of Canada’s Agriculture Day are once again asking Canadians to put their “forks up for Canadian ag.” I encourage everyone from coast to coast to coast to celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day by using local ingredients to prepare your meals, engaging with members of your local agricultural communities or even by virtually touring farms around the country to learn more about where your food comes from.

However you chose to celebrate, make sure to do so by raising your forks to our great Canadian food system and using the hashtag #CdnAgDay.

Thank you. Meegwetch.