Rural leaders want Ottawa to increase Agri-Stability and Agri-Invest funding to its original contribution
A federal budget is expected in March, and at least one Saskatchewan organization is heading to Ottawa before then to make its priorities known.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has released a list of priorities for rural areas and will meet with officials in Ottawa later this month.
President Ray Orb said he didn’t think it would be too late for input to the federal budget.
A key request is for the Agri-Stability trigger to be restored to 85 percent of a producer’s reference margin.
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It was cut to 70 percent for Growing Forward 2, and numerous farm organizations have now asked that it be restored.
“It’s really going to be a tough one because I think some of the provinces asked for that reduction because they didn’t want to contribute the extra money,” Orb said, noting Saskatchewan was not one of those.
“The federal government probably looked at that as a cost-saving measure as well. We want to make sure they get the message. If they’re good programs, they should be left in place.”
SARM also wants the Agri-Invest federal contribution rate to be returned to the original 1.5 percent of allowable net sales rather than one percent.
Other priorities include better cellular coverage and broadband access. SARM wants Ottawa to ensure that any unused wireless spectrum is allocated to providers who are willing to service rural Saskatchewan.
The organization wants a federal-provincial fund established for local fire departments to draw on to ensure they are paid and for direct negotiation between mun-icipalities and First Nations to be allowed for emergency response agreements.
“Everyone should be able to have fire coverage in the province,” Orb said.
He also intends to raise the issue of stimulus funding for infrastructure.
Rural municipalities have no indication yet that they will be included in the program.
“We have some shovel-ready projects that were put on hold.”
