Throne Speech Ignores Farm Community Thursday, March 04, 2010
For Immediate Release
March 3, 2010
OTTAWA – Malpeque MP and Agriculture Critic for the Official Opposition, Wayne Easter described the Throne Speech as a betrayal of Canadians struggling through an economic crisis created by the Conservatives.
“Where is the hope for the farm community struggling under a $59 billion debt burden – a burden which this government has increased by $9 billion?” Easter stated. “Where is the hope for the hog industry which is in a state of collapse or the livestock sector where the number of producers leaving the industry is the worst since the Great Depression? The Throne Speech fails to acknowledge the crisis and signals that this government is prepared to sacrifice an entire industry without any hesitation.”
Easter continued by insisting that the lack of government support to the livestock sector will cause Canada’s industry to fall farther behind its primary competitors. “Up to one quarter of the pork consumed by Canadians is now imported primarily from the United States while the export of hogs has declined by 65%. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has even revealed that U.S. livestock producers will see a substantial increase in earnings this year while Statistics Canada confirms that Canada’s livestock industry will continue its decline. This is a betrayal of our livestock sector and the Minister of Agriculture has demonstrated no interest in reversing this trend.”
Easter concluded by highlighting several initiatives that he believes could provide immediate assistance to the industry including the elimination of the cost for Specific Risk Management removal as well as the cost of recovery fees to the farm community. Easter also believes that eliminating the viability test and changing the reference margin would allow money to flow from safety net programs to hard pressed producers. “The Minister has not expressed an interest in implementing these crucial and relatively inexpensive initiatives and today’s Throne Speech serves to reinforce this lack of commitment to saving the industry.”
Contact:
Office of Hon. Wayne Easter
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.
