Farmers are suspicious of the way the federal and provincial
governments are trying to introduce the next generation of farm
programs under the agricultural policy framework umbrella, a key rural
Liberal MP has told prime minister Jean Chrétien.
In effect, it was a criticism to the prime minister about how
Agriculture Canada and agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief have been
handling the APF file.
“Many in the farming community feel their suggestions are being
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ignored, that governments have already made key decisions and that
consultations are nothing more than window dressing,” Ontario MP Bob
Speller, chair of the Liberal caucus task force on agriculture, said in
a letter to Chrétien accompanying the task force’s final report,
published Nov. 27.
“Moreover, there is concern that the proposals being presented on
safety nets are unworkable and more reflective of administrative
simplicity rather than of something that would really help farmers.”
Speller said if these “problems” were not corrected quickly, “we risk
seriously harming our relationship with the agriculture and agri-food
industry.”
Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Bob Friesen quickly
praised Speller for his none-too-subtle shot at Vanclief.
“The task force has recognized farmers are concerned about the delivery
of federal transition funding and are anxious that the proposals being
presented on safety nets are unworkable and are designed to meet
government interests, not the needs of farmers,” Friesen said Nov. 28.
Speller’s cover letter to the prime minister actually was far more
critical than either the report or comments he made during a news
conference to release the report.
During the news conference, the southwestern Ontario MP praised
Vanclief and the government for their reaction to the task force’s
earlier interim report. Since then, the government has announced the
$5.2 billion in agriculture financing over five years and ordered some
changes at the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
“We are pleased with the reaction,” Speller said.
Last week, the task force asked that the next federal budget contain
tax incentives to encourage construction or expansion of biofuel
plants, tax changes to help intergenerational transfer of farms, and a
government commitment to review agricultural policies every five years
to make certain they are working for farmers.
And Speller said it is unrealistic for the government to insist that
the $1.1 billion annual APF risk management funding is all there will
be. He said in some years of extraordinary demand, more money may be
needed.
