Harper Breaks Trust With Farmers: Easter Thursday, March 02, 2006
Malpeque MP and Agriculture & Agri-food Critic for the Official Opposition, Wayne Easter attending the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s meetings in Ottawa listened carefully to Minister Strahl’s remarks earlier today.
“The statements made by the Conservatives during the election campaign,” said Easter, that they would commit an additional $500 million toward farm income programs were misleading, based on what the Minister of Agriculture told the meeting today.”
“Minister Strahl made it clear,” Easter continued, “that the Conservative government would only compliment the minimum spending on farm support programs to an extent farm below the commitments of the previous government. This would actually mean more than $1 billion less in 2006 than the Martin government had paid out in 2005.”
Mr. Easter described this is a betrayal of farmers at a time when Agriculture Canada has projected a further 16% decline in net income for producers.
“In the election campaign,” said Easter, “Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party said the following in Chatham, Ontario, ‘a new Conservative government will commit an additional $500 million every year to farm support programs.’ Farmers were led to believe that the Conservatives would improve on the Liberal commitments. That is simply not the case.”
“Based on Minister Strahl’s statement,” said Easter, “no matter how Canadian farmers look at it, they will receive less from this government than in previous years. This is a clear demonstration of Mr. Harper’s breaking trust with farmers at a time of great need. As Agriculture Critic I will be demanding more from this government on behalf of farmers and that demand must be met with cash before spring.”
Easter concluded by saying, “The recognition of the needs of our farmers was of the highest priority of the previous government. We ensured that the most recent $755 million commitment for example was already formally booked for in the fiscal framework and we pledged that it would not impact on CAIS payments. It is most unfortunate that Minister Strahl has started his time in office with failing to keep the commitment his leader made during the election campaign.”
Returning
MP: Wayne Easter
Province: Prince
Edward Island
Region: Atlantic
Region
Area: 1 663
km2
Population: 33,796
(2006 census)
Major census subdivisions: Charlottetown*
and Cornwall
Other
electoral districts: Cardigan, Egmont, Hillsborough
Polling divisions: 68
Number
of electors on preliminary list: 25,234
(Elections Canada)
*Denotes that a census
subdivision occurs in more than one electoral district.
The agriculture industry is
a complex and multi-level chain comprising of suppliers,
farmers, processors, retailers and consumers in Canada
and abroad. This industry is a generator of wealth,
key to Canada's prosperity.
As Agriculture Critic, I have the opportunity to
work with industry, primary producers and Parliament
to build a stronger, more vibrant rural Canada and
strengthen our farmer's voice in Ottawa.
