August
1, 2002
The
Hon. Lyle Vanclief, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Room
607, Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
The
Hon. Ralph Goodale, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Minister
responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Room
435-S, Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear
Mr. Vanclief and Mr. Goodale,
An Open Letter to all Canadians
More
than a month has passed since the announcements of federal funding for
agriculture, and producers still have not seen the details on how these funds
will be delivered. The
announcements on June 20th and July 12th were filled with
Liberal spin tactics rather than real help for farmers and ranchers.
The producers of this province deserve more than to be part of a
political shell game. I believe
that this announcement was designed to give the impression to those in the
cities that much is being done to help farmers.
Saskatchewan
farmers have not yet received a cent from the Prime Minister since June 20th.
The government does not even know how they will be distributing this
inadequate amount to producers. Careful
calculations show that Canadian farm families will not be receiving any more
support than they did over the last three years.
A
severe drought has hit many Saskatchewan farmers. The funding announcement falls miles away from seriously
addressing the problem. Words will
not help cattle producers feed and water their animals today, nor will it give
grains and oilseeds producers the chance to make it through the winter
financially. On top of it all, the
government still has not acknowledged the injury to our producers caused by
foreign subsidies.
It
is obvious to producers of this province that there will be no concrete help in
the near future. It is insulting
that the announcement was a mere shell game – moving money around at whim so
that urban Canadians can be duped into thinking you are really helping farmers.
The government must not ignore those who produce a safe and inexpensive
food supply and yet face conditions that are beyond their control.
Instead
of helping farmers and ranchers get through what has been a number of
consecutive years of falling farm incomes, you and your colleagues made much to
do about nothing when these announcements were made. The truth, which has been lost in your government’s spin,
is that the government will actually have to cut the funds going into farm
safety nets in order to achieve the objectives of the Agriculture Policy
Framework.
Simply
replacing the $675 million taken from agriculture in last year’s budget and
calling it a funding increase is dishonest.
The total of $5.2 billion over six years is in actuality a reduction of
the government’s commitment to agriculture.
In last years budget $1.1 billion per year was designated to farm safety
nets.
Many
other positive suggestions were made in the House of Commons during speeches
made by myself and other Alliance M.P.s. If
these ideas were implemented they would dramatically increase the financial
situation for many farmers.
Farmers
still insist that they want to receive the full benefit of their labour from the
marketplace. If these changes were
made it would benefit them. Some
examples are a tax reduction of fuel and input costs, an improved NISA and Crop
Insurance program, a market driven grain transportation and handling system, and
protecting the producers right to make a living from legislation such as the
Species at Risk Act and the Cruelty to Animals bill.
We
are voicing the concerns and needs of Canadian farmers, and I think it’s time
for both of you to really listen and respond to their needs.
This would help virtually everyone in our country.
Sincerely
Garry
Breitkreuz, MP
Yorkton-Melville