This week, MP Arnold Viersen of Peace River–Westlock hosted beekeepers from five provinces on Parliament Hill to emphasize the vital role of beekeeping in Canadian agriculture. Alberta, producing nearly half of Canada’s honey, sees 50% of that output from Viersen’s riding. He highlighted that one in every three bites of food is a result of bee pollination.
On November 24, Viersen facilitated meetings between the beekeepers and U.S. and Mexican embassy officials to discuss cross-border trade issues affecting the industry. Later, he honored bees and beekeepers in the House of Commons. That evening, alongside Senator Paula Simons, Viersen co-hosted the inaugural “Honey on the Hill” reception, celebrating the beekeeping sector with MPs and Senators.
The following day, Viersen organized a briefing for Conservative MPs and held a press conference with the Alberta Beekeepers Commission and the Canadian Beekeepers Federation. They addressed challenges such as maintaining colony health, accessing replacement honeybee stock, combating fraudulent imports, and securing skilled seasonal labor.
Beekeepers are urging the federal government to implement a collaborative framework to tackle these pressing issues, emphasizing the industry’s significance to national food security and the agricultural economy.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
