OTTAWA – The House of Commons agriculture committee is launching a study of high farm input costs, but some MPs involved in the project clearly are unexcited at the prospect.
At the request of federal and provincial agriculture ministers, the committee started hearing evidence this week about the causes of rising fertilizer, chemical and fuel costs.
Committee chair Jerry Pickard said farm groups will be invited to offer evidence about the problem and possible solutions later this autumn.
Provide explanation
Suppliers will be invited to appear to explain their pricing policies.
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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
“We have been asked to do this and I think we can do it within a reasonable time period,” Pickard told committee members Oct. 5.
All members agreed, but there was some grumbling.
Liberal Wayne Easter called it “busy work,” noting the committee did a similar study in 1987 which resulted in little government action.
“As MPs, there is very little we can do in terms of high input costs, unless we find fixing of prices,” he said.
Reform MP Elwin Hermanson had the same concern.
The battle over safety nets is a far more important issue to study than input costs, he said. The committee should not spend too much time on it.
Pickard said the committee should be able to look at a number of issues over the fall and winter, including safety nets.
