Lacombe agricultural research centre gets yet another boost of support

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“This is a powerful and unified message from municipalities nationwide,” said Mayor Thalia Hibbs.

“Communities from coast to coast to coast have recognized the critical importance of protecting Canada’s agricultural research capacity. We are incredibly proud to see such strong backing for this issue.”

Lacombe County Reeve John Ireland also commented on the milestone.

“This near-unanimous vote shows municipalities understand that this is a national issue with very real local impacts,” said Ireland.

“This response highlights that this is bigger than any one community or region. These research centres are part of a national system that supports producers, municipalities, and industries across Canada. When locations are reduced, or local data is replaced with information from regions with very different growing conditions, the strength of that entire system is diminished.”

The following also spoke in favour of the resolution during the debate:

• Councillor Fred Gould, Municipality of Cumberland, Nova Scotia
• Councillor Joe Masi, City of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba and FCM Board member
• Councillor Bill Huber, Rural Municipality of Lipton No. 217, Saskatchewan and President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)

For background, it was in January when Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced it would be closing the facility, which technically sits just outside the city’s boundary in Lacombe County.

The LRDC, as it’s known, has been the epicentre for critical and groundbreaking agricultural research, and if shuttered, would put more than 100 people out of work.

When news initially broke, AAFC told rdnewsNOW the closure could take up to a year, and added that the reason was related to cost savings. They’ve also appeared adamant that there would be no reconsideration.

Plus, Lacombe’s facility was not alone, with two other centres in Guelph, ON, and Quebec City, QC, plus four satellite research farms in Nappan, NS, Scott, SK, Indian Head, SK, and Portage la Prairie, MB, also on the chopping block.

Since, Hibbs and Ireland have presented to officials in Ottawa; and in May, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food published a report recommending a reversal of the decision.

AAFC has 120 days to respond to the parliamentary committee’s report, which was published around May 8.

The public can stay up-to-date on developments of the Task Force’s advocacy efforts on the city’s and county’s websites: www.lacombecounty.com/LRDC www.lacombe.ca/LRDC