Addressing Challenges Facing Canadian Farmers

Canada (SANEPR.com) March 17, 2008 -- “Farmers need solutions now, without the hard work of our farmers our country would not be what it is today” states Leila Houle, Liberal candidate for Westlock-St Paul. “I have talked with many farmers and all have expressed their concerns about rising feed costs, the strong Canadian dollar, farm incomes, the price of gas or diesel, they want a level playing field to compete with the global market.”
This report indicates that farmers want action now and not fancy promises or promoting trade rules instead of the real needs and issues facing Farmers.

“A more specific issue Farmers are expressing is that much of my constituency is populated by people involved with the farming industry. With many children of today’s farmers moving to live in urban centers, the future of the family farm is in jeopardy” said Houle. “Farming needs to be competitive and economically feasible for them to stay and continue the family farm.”

Conservative Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is misleading Parliament about wheat pricing in an effort to undermine the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). On March 10, 2008, the Minister stated that producers in PEI were receiving $600 per tonne for milling wheat while those in Saskatchewan under the Canadian Wheat Board were receiving ‘half that'. “This statement is blatantly false. Under the CWB’s Basis Price Contract Program, farmers could have availed themselves of prices ranging above $700 per tonne in the month of February,” Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter pointed out.

Mr. Easter pointed out that as the Minister responsible for the Wheat Board, Mr. Ritz has access to this information and therefore has a duty to be honest about the pricing programs of the CWB. “The Conservatives have no business undermining the Canadian Wheat Board and misleading Canadians that Western farmers want to eliminate the CWB, they have a duty to be honest and accountable to Canadians about the pricing programs of the CWB. An apology is in order to western farmers and the CWB, immediately.”

“Our Farmers are some of the most efficient producers in the world and they are having trouble because farm debts have risen to record highs over the last four years” states Leila Houle. “Agriculture and agri-food employs approximately two million Canadians and nine percent of our gross national product. Farmers deserve better, it is time the Conservatives start giving them the respect they deserve.

The Liberal Party’s report on Agriculture; Report of the Opportunities in Agriculture Task Force, can be found on the Internet at http://www.liberal.ca/pdf/docs/080306_ag_tf_report_en.pdf