ESTEVAN, Sask. – Saskatchewan stock growers want money set aside for a provincial beef development fund to be put into a Western Canadian fund instead.
At their annual meeting last week, the stock growers passed a resolution urging the Saskatchewan Tripartite Beef Administration Board, which administers the provincial fund, “to join with the western provinces and turn these funds over to develop an industry development fund that will be matched by the federal government.”
Matching federal funds needed
Calvin Knoss, a stock grower from Rockglen who is also a member of the tripartite administration board, said it is important to obtain matching funds from the federal government. “It’s a small investment to make to have a major say in a $25-million fund.”
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Earlier in the meeting Knoss asked agriculture minister Darrel Cunningham whether Ottawa has made a commitment to match $1.35 million the province is contributing. Cunningham said yes, but another stock grower disagreed.
“You’re only fooling yourself if you think the federal government is going to come up with that $1.35 million if we start our own (fund),” said Ian Thompson of Carnduff.
“I do have a commitment,” Cunningham replied. “If they’re putting any strings on it they haven’t told me.”
