Canadian Beekeepers Federation
U.S. Packaged Honeybees
Advocacy Campaign Plan
Over the summer and fall, the Canadian Beekeepers Federation (CBF) and an Advisory Group have met with many different government officials, encouraging the federal government to allow the importation of U.S. honeybees into Canada. Our meetings include officials from:
Prairies Economic Development Canada
Agriculture Canada
Health Canada
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Embassy
Members of Parliament.
Outcomes
Thanks to our efforts, Connie Phillips, executive director, Alberta Beekeepers Commission, and a key member of the Canadian Beekeepers Federation, was able to join the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Working Group on Canadian Honey Bee Sustainability. She was the first and only industry representative on the committee. This working group will soon publish their initial study.
Reacting to pressure from various government stakeholders that we had briefed, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) initiated a call out for new scientific information about the risks associated with importing U.S. packaged honeybees into Canada. The CBF responded to this call out with a wealth of new information, and we engaged with multiple stakeholders to do the same—including representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Canada and the U.S. Congress.
Several politicians and non-partisan officials offered to facilitate meetings between CBF and the CFIA and then attend these discussions. They also wrote letters to the CFIA, encouraging them to reconsider the border closure. Our internal government allies will help us continue to pressure the CFIA and fight back against the agency’s outdated and false opposition.
Indeed, Agriculture Canada has committed that any CFIA assessment will finish in a timely manner and consider economic factors. The CBF is actively feeding information and data to both studies. The government has set an ambitious schedule (ambitious for government) to resolve this crisis-–in time for next spring.
Next Steps
We have accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. However, the CBF and the Advisory Group will need to continue to keep up the pressure. Agriculture Canada has committed to help, but the CFIA has the ability and resources to continue to drag out its review and indefinitely delay any changes. It will only respond to political and stakeholder pressure.
We recommend that we now move forward with more political meetings – policy/political advisors to ministers, Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister as we ramp up our information campaign regarding the urgency of this dire situation:
Members of Parliament and Senators on the relevant Agriculture Committees
Privy Council Office
Prime Minister’s Office.
The CBF should also consider partnering with the many agricultural producers that rely on bees for pollination. Allies could include the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Canada Grains Council, fresh fruit associations, etc. These are large, politically powerful organizations. Having them join our campaign would greatly help our cause.
Finally, we should consider bringing the CBF’s story to the media. The Trudeau government responds to media pressure and is continually worried about negative headlines. CBF’s members have suffered undue harm and hardship at the hands of the federal government. Climate change has led to higher overwintering losses, to the point where farmers are unable to meet the growing demands of Canadian agriculture and the international honey market. But rather than responding to the cries of Canadian farmers, the Trudeau government has so far ignored them—hurting our agricultural producers and the health of bees.
We should present this story to prominent political journalists in Ottawa and encourage them to run a story. We expect that the government would react to this story—or even the potential of a story and try to find a solution to the problem. The Advisory Group has the network of contacts and expertise to make this happen, and we would happily assist the CBF with this initiative. It could greatly help our advocacy and accelerate a resolution.
Lend Your Support
The Canadian Beekeepers Federation has made great strides in only a few months. After years of intransigence from the CFIA, we’re finally close to breaking the bureaucratic logjam. Canadian beekeepers need strong, healthy bees from the U.S. to replenish and renew our hives. Getting access to these bees will strengthen our business and livelihood. We must continue our momentum over the winter and spring. Please lend your support.