WINNIPEG – Manitoba farmers will be shortchanged $163 million in their Crow Benefit payments, says a report released last week by the provincial government.
“Producers in Alberta … who are suffering far less hurt are being treated far more generously than Manitoba producers,” said agriculture minister Harry Enns.
But Alberta’s agriculture minister said Manitoba should stop dwelling on the past and get on with developing a strategy for the future.
Walter Paszkowski said the report covers Manitoba’s concerns, but neglects to mention that “Alberta spent hundreds of millions of dollars paying into the (Canadian Wheat Board seaway) pooling for many, many years.”
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The report, produced by Enns’ staff, compares the effect of transportation reform on farmers to the total dollars per seeded acre that the federal government is giving in compensation.
It finds that funding will offset nearly half the impact that Alberta farmers will feel. Meanwhile, Manitoba farmers will be receiving only 32 percent compensation and Saskatchewan farmers will get about 37 percent.
The analysis concludes the federal government would have to add $163 million to Manitoba’s payout to reach the same level of coverage as Alberta.
Enns gave federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale a copy of the report at a recent meeting in Newfoundland. He plans to lobby the minister and Manitoba Liberal MPs to redress the inequity by either adding new funds to Manitoba’s share of the payout, or redirecting money away from Alberta’s share.
“If the federal government says that there are no more dollars, I suspect that probably is the case, then … the degree to which Alberta farmers are being compensated for the relatively light hurt, some of that should be transferred to offset the hurt (of Manitoba farmers),” Enns said.
But Paszkowski said that’s not up for negotiation: “I guess when Manitoba wants to rebate us for some of the additional pooling costs that we put into the pool account without using them, then perhaps we could consider discussing the transfer of Alberta funds into Manitoba.”
Add compensation
Andy Renaud, Saskatchewan’s minister of agriculture, said the report confirmed the payout will be inadequate. He said the government should add compensation to the $300 million adjustment fund rather than redistributing the funds.
“Rather than province fight against province, I believe we should be pursuing the federal government for more compensation. If we try to redirect what little bit is being paid out by the federal government, it’s not the answer to our problems,” Renaud said.
Federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale was not available for comment.
