STATEMENT BY YORKTON-MELVILLE MP GARRY BREITKREUZ REGARDING R.M. AGRICULTURE DISASTER RESOLUTIONS

YORKTON - “Through phone calls from producers, media reports and recent correspondence from many rural municipalities, I have been closely following all events related to the tremendous amount of rainfall and flooding our constituency has experienced over the past several of weeks. Combined with snowfall in early May, areas of Yorkton-Melville have had in excess of 12 inches of precipitation since May 1. The impact of this amount of water hitting and then sitting on farmland is horrendous.

To date, I have received correspondence from four Yorkton-Melville R.M.s – the R.M. of Porcupine, the R.M. of Orkney, the R.M. of Elfros and the R.M. of Foam Lake. Councils of all four R.M.s have stated that their areas are agricultural disasters, and I am aware that many more R.M.s will declare the same within the coming days. I believe these declarations underscore the severity of the situation in many areas of Yorkton-Melville.

I have been in contact with local Saskatchewan Party M.L.A.s who have seen the devastation firsthand, and I have also advised federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz of the crisis facing our producers. Minister Ritz knows first hand how weather is key to the success of farming and always takes these situations seriously. I have been informed that both federal and provincial Ministries of Agriculture have been in consultation regarding the rainfall and flooding our region continues to experience.

I truly appreciate the terrible conditions our farmers have experienced this spring. Moreover, I am well aware of the financial impact that this is having on our producers, knowing that many are already facing bills for fall and spring anhydrous applications that have now been washed away.

I will continue to work closely with my Saskatchewan Party colleagues, Members of Parliament, and with those affected rural municipalities to ensure that an appropriate federal response is enacted.”

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