NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. – Don Voss has a message for the Saskatchewan government.
“Quit making excuses,” said the Spiritwood, Sask., farmer about the province’s stand on farm aid.
“I don’t think you can say there’s nothing they can do. There’s plenty they can do.”
Voss spoke at the grain truck rally in North Battleford last week. Most of the approximately 500 farmers there voted in favor of a demand for an emergency bailout of $40 per acre. Assuming it costs $120 an acre to produce a crop of barley, and average returns will be $80 an acre, rally organizers say most farmers will lose $40 per acre this year.
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Saskatchewan agriculture minister Eric Upshall has said the province is willing to share the costs of a long-term disaster program, but wants the federal government to put up all the money for a short-term bailout.
North Battleford Liberal MLA Jack Hillson attacked the province’s position.
“If we’re really serious about this being a crisis, then we have to put our money where our mouth is,” he said in an interview.
“If it’s a crisis, surely you’re willing to do something more than just place a phone call to Ottawa.”
Saskatchewan Party agriculture critic Bill Boyd said the provincial government could help right now.
It could take property tax off land, cut the sales, fuel and income taxes and reduce grazing lease rates.
“In areas that the province has direct control over, they should be moving to help reduce costs for producers,” said Boyd at the rally.
The provincial position was promoted by a number of government members and local NDP icon Eiling Kramer, whose family owns the auction hall where the rally was held.
But the province’s position was denounced by Voss, who received a standing ovation for his passionate speech.
Upshall, who was in Ottawa that day trying to get the federal agriculture minister to provide emergency money for farmers, said he is not backing away from his demand that Ottawa provide all the money.
“I’m not being cheap,” said Upshall in an interview. “We don’t have the money to even come close to solving the problem.”
He said it would cost the provincial government $100 million to provide a $2 per acre payment. That’s very expensive, and “what is $2 to a farmer? It’s an insult.”
Only the federal government has the depth of pocket needed to cover the crisis.
Upshall also said the federal government has a moral duty to help farmers because it prematurely killed the Crow freight subsidy for grain. That has cost Saskatchewan farmers $1 billion already.
“It would not be right for me to ask the Saskatchewan taxpayer to again backfill a decision that the federal government made,” said Upshall.
In a time of crisis, people often turn against those closest to them, he noted, so he’s not surprised people are attacking the provincial government.
But he warned farmers not to lose sight of the real target: Ottawa.
“We can’t keep looking internally until we go crazy.”
