AGRICULTURE THE FOCUS OF TAKE-NOTE DEBATE
“The producers in the RM of Porcupine represent the very reason that we need a separate income stabilization program and a disaster relief program.”

OTTAWA – On only the third day of this new session of Parliament, Canada’s Members of Parliament, including Yorkton-Melville M.P. Garry Breitkreuz, turned their focus to agriculture Thursday night as representatives of all four political parties took part in a special take-note debate.

During the debate, both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl restated the need to change the CAIS program. During his address to the House, Strahl outlined the Conservative Government’s plan to replace CAIS with a two-component program – one that would address income stabilization and another to provide disaster relief.

“We have heard over and over again that CAIS needs to be scrapped,” said Breitkreuz following the debate, “and now we have heard, directly from our Agriculture Minister, a real solution that will help our farmers.”

Agriculture producers from across Canada who have used CAIS have found the program to be expensive both in money and time, and it has been ineffective. Because the program uses an Olympic average to calculate payouts, two or three years of adverse conditions such as drought or frost will lower potential payments. Many producers do not even qualify for CAIS payments.

“CAIS is an income stabilization program only,” said Breitkreuz. “During the agriculture debate, we even heard that point stressed by Members of Parliament on the other side of the House.” The Rural Municipality of Porcupine, located in the northern portion of the riding of Yorkton-Melville, is a case in point. The RM received approximately 40 inches of rain during the 2005 growing season. Much of that rain came during the harvest resulting in unharvested crops, ruined hay crops, equipment damage and two-foot-deep tire ruts which will make seeding the 2006 crop almost unlikely.

“The producers in the RM of Porcupine represent the very reason that we need a separate income stabilization program and a disaster relief program,” said Breitkreuz. “Had the previous Liberal government listened to our farmers and either made the necessary changes to CAIS or scrapped it for a workable program, the necessary funding would be in the hands of these producers right now.

While Strahl has said assistance for the agriculture industry will be announced when the budget is presented, most likely in early May, speedy passage through Parliament is a must.

“We are hoping all opposition parties understand the importance of passing the budget quickly so that we can get money to the farmers,” said Breitkreuz. “Minister Strahl has explored all the ways he can help right now, but he needs authority from a majority of the Members in Parliament before he can do more.”

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