The federal Liberals are doing everything in their power to douse
farmer expectations that next February’s national budget will have
anything for them.
Agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief uses every opportunity to insist
that last summer’s $5.2 billion commitment over five years is all there
is in new federal financing.
And neither Liberals nor Canadian Alliance MPs on the House of Commons
finance committee bothered to ask for more farm support when it
published a pre-budget report with recommendations for finance minister
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John Manley.
The majority report tabled in the Commons noted that several farm
groups had attended public hearings and “expressed concern about the
challenges currently faced by the agriculture and agri-food industry.”
And it noted high transportation costs are a problem for farmers on the
Prairies.
However, the committee recommendation says only “the federal government
ensure that adequate attention is paid to the needs of rural and remote
communities.”
In minority reports, New Democrat MPs said more federal help is needed
beyond what has been promised. “An immediate increase in federal
support to farmers through the NISA is urgently needed.”
The Progressive Conservative Party said existing safety nets fall
“significantly short of meeting the basic needs of Canada’s agriculture
industry.”
It urged Manley to find more money. “Additional support is required and
should be one of the top priorities for the federal government.”
Canadian Alliance finance critic Charlie Penson, a northern Alberta
grain farmer, said in an interview MPs did not make strong farm support
recommendations because they did not receive strong pressure from
farmers.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of farmer input,” said Penson. “Perhaps they
are waiting to see how the current federal promises play out. I also
think there is a fatigue factor. Farmers know that governments know the
problem. What more can they do?”
The major farm presentation to the finance committee came in Saskatoon
where Canadian Federation of Agriculture vice-president Marvin Shauf
said producers want programs that are better than they have now, are
competitive with programs available to foreign competitors and include
guaranteed disaster relief.
“Farm income programs should be adequately funded and strategic,” he
said without adding a dollar figure.
“Safety net funding levels must be set to create a level playing field
with our competitors.”
