Good morning, Mr. Chair and committee members.
My name is Mary Robinson. I am president of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture. With me today is Robert Godfrey, our executive director.
Thank you for this opportunity to present here today in beautiful Charlottetown. Welcome to our province.
The PEIFA is Prince Edward Island's largest general farm organization, representing 80% to 85% of farms across the Island. The federation is comprised of approximately 600 farms and 15 different commodity member associations. Our membership is made up of family farms, many of which have been farmed for generations. Canada's agrifood sector employs one in eight Canadians and provided $108 billion to Canadian GDP in 2014.
In Prince Edward Island, agriculture is the largest industry. Provincially, in 2014 it provided 4,000 direct jobs and more than $435 million to GDP. Our industry is working to meet the opportunities presented by a changing climate, a rising global population, and a domestic consumer base looking for diverse agrifood products. P.E.I. agriculture continues to suffer economic limitations due to a shortage of labour, as well as access to deepwater ports.
Our remarks today will echo many of the same things you've heard from our national counterpart, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture: one, income tax revisions to enable family farm transfers; two, clean technologies in an era of carbon pricing; and three, market access opportunities.