NEWS RELEASE

January 17, 2000                                                                                                           For Immediate Release

Breitkreuz Takes Message From Farmers To Toronto

"House of Commons speeches helped convince Liberal MP to hold farm concert"

Yorkton - Garry Breitkreuz, Official Opposition Agriculture Critic and Member of Parliament for Yorkton - Melville, attended the Family Farm Tribute concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Sunday after receiving a special invitation from Dennis Mills, Liberal MP (Broadview - Greenwood, Ontario) who organized the concert. One of the reasons Mr. Mills decided to hold this concert was because of a speech Breitkreuz gave during a Reform supply day motion on Agriculture in October. "As part of that speech I portrayed the human side of the farm crisis by reading comments from letters I had received from struggling farm families. Mr. Mills told me after hearing those heart-wrenching stories, he would help get the message across to the urban population especially in Toronto. This concert was the result and I would like to congratulate him on his efforts," stated Breitkreuz.

Breitkreuz was pleased that politics was finally put aside and everyone focused on the need to assist the people that produce the nation's food. "Western farmers need immediate financial support and a long range strategy from this government if they are going to survive. This concert helped make the public aware of this need and of the importance that farm families play in Canada's economy. Farmers make up only 3% of the population so we need the support of the urban residents," declared Breitkreuz.

"This is just the beginning of the education process. Many in the cities don't realize farmers subsidize them because the grain is sold below the cost of production. Other countries subsidize their grain farmers and this drives down the price in Canada to below what it costs to grow the crop. We must continue to inform urban Canadians of where their affordable food comes from. We must also make sure that our farm families do not disappear because if they disappear so will our affordable food. Urban Canada is where the votes are and if they tell the government there needs to be a agriculture policy in place that fosters the family farm, then this government will have to listen. Remember when you eat don't just thank God, thank a farmer," concluded Breitkreuz.

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For More Information Please Call:

Yorkton: 1-800-667-6606

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394

E-mail: breitg2@sk.sympatico.ca