With the National Agriculture Leaders Debate coming up on Wednesday, a former ag minister says there are many issues needing to be addressed.

Ralph Goodale, current deputy leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, says farm income safety nets, farm labour, and research need to be a priority for the next government, but he says the two main issues needing to be dealt with are water and transportation.

In terms of transportation, he says current grain handling systems need to be improved to adequately represent and defend primary producers, and to have effective financial remedies when performance fails.

"The system must be forward-looking and geared for growth," he says. "It must be transparent, it must be accountable. It needs to foster competition. The levels of service that railways should provide and the ways in which their performance is measured need to be more precisely defined to meet the needs of shippers and their customers, and to promote competitiveness and economic growth."

He adds more money needs to be invested in infrastructure to increase system capacity and efficiency.

In terms of water, Goodale says expertise, goodwill, and success was squandered with the integration of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) into other government departments. As Canada deals with the effects of climate change, he says producers need help dealing with floods, droughts, and soil conservation.

"In the last few years, for example, severe storms, major floods and droughts have disrupted many prairie lives and livelihoods," he says. "In the spirit of PFRA, a new Liberal government will work with provinces, municipalities, academics, farm groups, and others to help marshall the informed collaborative leadership and resources necessary for successful prairie soil and water conservation and development."

Goodale will not be at Wednesday's debate in Ottawa, but ag critic Mark Eyking will represent the Liberal Party.