Since the announcement of the $30 per acre grant, many farmers are having mixed reactions.
For some it will be welcomed but many say it is not enough. Many say that it is too slow in coming and that there is a witch hunt in relation to applications.
When the town people got drowned out, those $3,000 cheques were in the mail ASAP and with no strings attached. However, it seems to be another case when it comes to the farmers of the Prairies.
All I hear from urban people is the thousands, tens of thousands of dollars the farmers are getting. Well, here are some facts.
Read Also
Canadian Food Inspection Agency extends chronic wasting disease control program consultation deadline
Date extended for consultation period of changes to CWD program
The $30 per acre will not even come close to the cost of rent, fuel, chemical, taxes or machinery costs. For most farmers, whose cash rental far exceeds the $30, this may be the last year farming.
For those with large machinery payments, the equipment may go back to the dealer. For the fuel and chemical dealers, collection of debts may be questionable. This grant will be far from saving the farm economy in the West.
Some politicians claim that other programs will assist over and above but if there are clawbacks from other programs, the great and wonderful $30 per acre will disappear.
We have seen this far too often in the past to dismiss this. Some call this misleading but most call this dirty politics or media hype.
If you are going to give the urban people their money with no holds barred, why not the farmers? I believe that both the federal and provincial governments have forgotten who supported them from the start. I believe that they, like their predecessors, have gone for the urban vote while forgetting their true blue friends.
With the very noticeable shortage of food throughout the world due to many factors, is it not stupid to Band-Aid an industry that is so important?
When the United States put all the billions of dollars into the banking world, did it change the demographics of the U.S. economy? No.
When we assisted the auto industry, did it make for an instant revival of our economy? No.
Whenever there is a disaster in the world, Canada comes to the rescue with millions of dollars and does this help us? No.
When it comes to the true providers of food, the farmers, we give them crumbs …. We will remember this in the next election.
Bob Thomas,
Regina Beach, Sask.
