OTTAWA – As its solution to the federal-provincial impasse over national farm safety net rules, the Reform party caucus is leaning toward favoring a sharp split in federal and provincial responsibilities, says the party agriculture spokesperson.
Elwin Hermanson (Kindersley-Lloydminster) said last week the caucus is discussing supporting the federal government if it decides to unilaterally create a national whole-farm program without provincial involvement.
That would leave the pro-vinces free to create so-called companion programs to run alongside the federal program. They would be subject to national rules on trade violations and possibly equity between provincial subsidy packages.
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“I can’t say that is our policy yet. We are still discussing it,” Hermanson said last week. “But that is the way our discussion is going. That is how we are leaning.”
Ottawa and Edmonton are locked in a dispute over national rules and standards for a new safety net program. Alberta wants the right to set rules and support levels different than those in other provinces.
The federal government says Alberta’s objections are holding up a national safety net agreement and federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale is threatening to set up a national whole-farm program excluding the provinces if unanimous provincial agreement is not reached soon.
Hermanson suggested that may be the best way to go.
“We support a national whole-farm support program,” he said. “We don’t agree with Alberta’s position on this.”
Alberta Reform MP Leon Benoit (Vegreville) said he does not think Alberta should be able to subvert a national deal on a whole-farm program. But he also argued that provinces should have the right to create supplementary programs they believe their farmers need.
“I think Alberta has the right to stand up for what it wants,” he said. “But the question is should Alberta be able to hold the other provinces from creating a national whole- farm program.”
Benoit said provinces must have the right to create their own “companion” support programs because his impression is that prairie farmers have moved away from wanting government support while Central Canadian and Atlantic farmers still want programs.
“I support a national whole-farm program but after that, I think the provinces should set their own priorities,” he said.
