The decision to consolidate rural service centres and lay off staff flies in the face of the government’s talk about revitalizing rural Saskatchewan, say critics of last week’s provincial budget.
“I don’t think there’s any notion in this government’s budget today of rural revitalization,” said Liberal leader David Karwacki. “I just think that rural Saskatchewan has in fact been hammered.”
Layoff notices went out to 120 Saskatchewan agriculture staff March 31; 119 of those were full and part-time extension staff in rural offices.
Twenty-two centres will close April 30, including Meadow Lake, Lloydminster, Unity, Nipawin, Humboldt, Hudson Bay, Kindersley, Biggar, Rosetown, Davidson, Watrous, Wynyard, Kelvington, Canora, Maple Creek, Shaunavon, Assiniboia, Indian Head, Moosomin, Estevan and Carnduff.
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The nine offices staying open are in North Battleford, Prince Albert, Tisdale, Saskatoon, Outlook, Yorkton, Swift Current, Regina and Weyburn.
Moose Jaw will become home to a call centre that will handle information requests by phone, fax, e-mail and the internet. The government said 70 percent of contact with farmers was already occurring this way.
Producers who want on-site advice should seek it from “the ever-expanding number of consulting agrologists in the private sector,” the government said.
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Terry Hildebrandt said an urban call centre can’t make up for losing friends and family.
“There could have been a lot more fat cut in the Walter Scott building,” he said, referring to the agriculture department’s Regina headquarters.
Opposition agriculture critic Lyle Stewart called the budget “an absolute assault on rural Saskatchewan. If we get a chance to take the government down on this budget, we’ll do it.”
Some people will be able to bump into jobs in other departments, but many of the employees have farm ties and won’t be able or willing to move. Twenty are eligible for an early retirement package.
“It means cuts for some and it’s very hard, but part of the reality of getting a budget that works and making sure that we’re investing in the primary drivers means that there will be some hurt, there will be some costs,” said agriculture minister Mark Wartman.
Meanwhile, the department reorganization will result in a new branch, agribusiness development, created to offer specialized services and training in rural communities.
This branch will require 24.5 permanent positions and some of those laid off may win job competitions, although staff will transfer from the now-defunct Farm Family Opportunities Initiative.
Sixteen other vacant department positions will not be filled. The staffing changes will save the department $2 million.
