I am writing in response to a letter in the Sept. 30 edition in which NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter criticizes the support our government has provided to Saskatchewan farmers dealing with flooding. The fact is, our Saskatchewan Party government acted quickly and significantly to address the flooding issues facing farmers across the province.
In early July 2010, we partnered with the federal government to announce the $360 million Excess Moisture Program (EMP) for Saskatchewan producers. This is the largest one-time provincial agricultural disaster response in Saskatchewan’s history.
The EMP program provides up to $30 per eligible acre to help farmers manage and rejuvenate crop land affected by this year’s unprecedented wet conditions.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
In addition, crop insurance customers are eligible for an unseeded acreage benefit of up to $50 per eligible acre, and also have coverage for seeded land that has been flooded out or affected by frost. AgriStability will also provide support to many participating producers.
In regards to the ongoing comments by the official NDP opposition regarding an additional $100 per acre payment, the opposition is once again playing politics on the backs of farmers. These are the same farmers the former NDP government neglected for 16 years.
In 2006, when farmers were facing flood challenges, the NDP would not commit to any additional support until mid-summer, long after the damage had been done. That payment was only $10 per acre. Additionally, in 2005 and 2007, when farmers were facing the same flooding challenges, the NDP government refused to provide any support.
Furthermore, this is the same old NDP that cut farm programs and services, left rural roads and highways to crumble, closed 53 rural hospitals and ignored the needs of rural Saskatchewan for 16 years.
This is the same NDP that is so out of touch with rural Saskatchewan they consider the long-gun registry a “phoney issue.” Given their track record in rural Saskatchewan, it is absolutely hypocritical for the backward-looking NDP opposition to criticize our government’s support for farmers.
Bob Bjornerud,
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister, Regina, Sask.
