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CPMA sends message after devastating floods hit British Columbia

Canadian Produce Marketing Association logo.

Canada has declared a state of emergency after a major storm hit British Columbia, causing flooding and loss of life.

News report say an atmospheric river dropped as much rain as typically falls in the region in a month.

Canadian armed forces have been deployed to help residents of British Columbia.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association BB #:153602 send the following message to members Nov. 18:

Dear CPMA members,

We know that many of you are experiencing significant challenges as a result of the ongoing emergency situation in British Columbia.

CPMA is actively engaged with the federal and provincial governments and allied association partners, including through the AAFC Roundtable and crisis management group, BC Emergency Management, and CBSA’s Border Commercial Consultative Committees to identify critical and imminent issues related to food and to determine what steps can or may be possible on the part of industry and government to mitigate the impact.

AAFC is also reaching out to its federal partners, including CFIA and CBSA to discuss options to enable the movement of goods. We have asked for the government to consider ways to implement a waiver to enable bonded produce loads to move without bonded drivers and expedited, exemptions or waivers for in-transit permits of non-Canadian products from Alberta to Vancouver and vis versa to support the movement of goods through the United States.

We will share additional information as it becomes available. In the interim, members can contact ainslie.avery@gov.bc.ca to share requests for access to areas or to move products to areas in need, or to provide other information that would be vital to support food security.

CPMA continues to gather member input related to critical and/or emerging issues, an assessment of the impact to our industry, as well as feedback on potential regulatory flexibility/other solutions for government consideration in prioritizing the movement of perishable and essential goods.

Sincerely,
Ron Lemaire
CPMA President

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