Read her lips: no more money.
That’s what Manitoba agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk told rural
councillors at the annual meeting of the Association of Manitoba
Municipalities about demands that the provincial government put $40
million into the federal trade damage package.
A number of rural officials asked Wowchuk about the money during a
question and answer session between the provincial cabinet and AMM
members.
The federal government has put $600 million into a special injection of
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China purchased just over 20 million tonnes of wheat, corn, barley and sorghum last year, that is well below the 60 million tonnes purchased in 2021-22.
money for Canadian farmers. It has said it wants the provinces to
contribute 40 percent extra.
Wowchuk said Manitoba will not pay for something the federal government
is responsible for.
“We recognize this as trade injury money,” said Wowchuk.
One questioner asked why Manitoba wasn’t putting up its own dollars,
since the money is coming through the Net Income Stabilization Account.
But Wowchuk said NISA is merely the way the government is channelling
money to farmers, and this payment is not a true NISA payment.
“Subsidies that other countries are putting in place are hurting our
producers very badly and the federal government has to address them.”
