WINNIPEG – Doug Young’s comments over grain transportation subsidies caused a furor at the Manitoba Legislature last week.
In a tersely worded letter to Young June 9, Manitoba’s minister of transportation Glen Findlay and agriculture minister Harry Enns said they were “astounded” by his comments.
“The federal government must supply responsible international leadership for the industry, not have the federal minister of transport and the federal minister of agriculture indicating to the public they do not know what the other is doing,” the letter said.
That same day the legislature held an emergency debate, prompted by the NDP, on the impact of losing the subsidy for Manitoba grain farmers and the Port of Churchill.
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“It is our hope that the debate today will send a strong message to the transport minister … Manitoba will not accept the threat to the Port and the thousands of farmers in this province he is proposing,” said Eric Robinson, NDP MLA for Rupertsland.
Findlay said Young’s comments indicate the federal government is considering doing away with the subsidy altogether. “If they haven’t … (decided), then what is one of their ministers doing telling the world they’re going to do away with the subsidy?” Findlay said. “They better clear this up very quickly. This is causing a tremendous concern at a time when we need certainty.”
Idea rejected
He said eliminating the subsidy was discussed briefly by federal and provincial officials three years ago, but the idea was rejected.
The suggestion that the subsidy must be eliminated to comply with GATT is wrong, Findlay added. It may have to be re-diverted or reduced, but it has already been cut by 15 percent of the required 36 percent.
Manitoba supports the Producer Payment Panel process, which is designed to explore alternative ways of delivering the subsidy, Findlay said. “But the option of not paying it at all to western Canada, is an option we reject entirely.”
