Farm groups and rural municipalities are not happy with Alberta
Agriculture’s plans to cut services at some of its existing rural
offices.
“I think this may be very detrimental to rural Alberta,” said Rod
Scarlett, executive director of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers.
An Alberta Agriculture official said the province plans to create 16
key service centre hubs in the province, but indicated there will be
cuts and consolidation at other offices.
Scarlett said the government seems to be moving toward a plan that will
Read Also
European wheat production makes big recovery
EU crop prospects are vastly improved, which could mean fewer canola and durum imports from Canada.
strengthen some communities to the detriment of others.
“I don’t know how this falls within any kind of plan for rural
development,” he said.
“It helps those hub centres, but it certainly does not help those
outlying areas where services were offered before.”
Larry Goodhope, executive director for the Alberta Association of
Municipal Districts and Counties, said his organization passed a
resolution at its fall convention asking Alberta Agriculture to keep
the existing number of specialists and support staff in rural areas.
“(This) is certainly not answering the directive that we received from
our membership,” Goodhope said.
A number of his members have sent letters of concern about the
consolidation and closure of government offices in their regions.
Goodhope said the province has indicated there will be a toll-free
number that producers can call to receive help, but he said that
doesn’t cut it with his membership.
Scarlett said producers use the district offices to seek advice on
plant, weed, soil and livestock management problems and to get
information on government programs. Now instead of a 10-minute drive,
they could be facing an hour-long trip to get the guidance they need.
He is angry that Wild Rose has not been consulted about the
consolidation process and said it will be in touch with the agriculture
minister’s office to see if it can get a meeting to voice its concerns.
