A significant slice of Canada’s beef and hog sectors will disappear within months if the federal government does not provide subsidies, says Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter.
But last week, the government gave no indication help is coming, other than promising that existing business risk management programs will not expire March 31, 2008, without a replacement available.
“Ministers (have agreed) to continue current programming while developing new and improved programming,” eastern Ontario MP Guy Lauzon, parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, said in reply to Easter’s Oct. 30 demands in the House of Commons.
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In an aggressive parliamentary address just hours after finance minister Jim Flaherty announced tens of billions of dollars worth of tax cuts over five years, the veteran Liberal MP and former farm leader said tax breaks will do nothing for farmers losing money.
“The minister may dislike ad hoc programs,” he said. “However, right now we have the livestock industry across this country facing financial ruin that needs immediate help. Farm crises do not occur on the government’s timetable. They happen suddenly and require action.”
Easter attributed the problems to a high Canadian dollar and competition from an integrated and subsidized American livestock industry.
