BREITKREUZ PUSHES FOR ASSISTANCE FOR RM OF PORCUPINE
“At least 100 farmers will be unable to seed a crop on a major portion of their land
because of 40 inches of rain last year.”

OTTAWA – In his first opportunity to address the 39th Parliament during Question Period, Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, urged the new Conservative government to immediately address the disaster facing farmers in the Rural Municipality of Porcupine.

“Nowhere is this crisis more evident than in the northern part of my riding around Porcupine Plain,” said Breitkreuz during his statement in the House of Commons on Monday. “At least 100 farmers will be unable to seed a crop on a major portion of their land because of 40 inches of rain last year. Water still covers much of their fields. Deep ruts make planting almost impossible on those fields that were harvested.”

While it was not designed as a disaster relief program, the previous Liberal government had forced farmers to rely on the flawed CAIS program for assistance during times of drought, flooding and frost. Breitkreuz is urging this government to make the changes necessary to adequately assist Canadian producers in such circumstances.

“Evidence of the crisis is obvious: land values are going down; unpaid bills from last year make it impossible to get credit to put in this year’s crop,” said Breitkreuz. “On top of all this, rising fuel costs and low commodity prices are having a devastating impact on our farmers’ ability to cope. The CAIS program isn’t working effectively. Urgent assistance is needed, and I call on the government to address this crisis now.”

Breitkreuz has been inundated with phone calls from farmers struggling to seed this year’s crop. Prior to Monday’s session of Question Period, Breitkreuz had brought forward the R.M. of Porcupine crisis in direct meetings with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, during a recent take-note debate involving all four political parties, and through several meetings with farm leaders and other Members of Parliament.

After completing his statement in the House of Commons, Breitkreuz spoke with Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl and was encouraged by the Minister’s understanding of the situation in the R.M. of Porcupine. He is determined to find a solution to assist these farmers.

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