Released on August 11, 1999
Premier Roy Romanow received strong support from nine other provincial premiersand three territorial leaders today, calling on Ottawa to address farm income.
Romanow is attending the 40th Annual Premiers' Conference in Quebec City.
"I spelled out the situation facing prairie grain farmers to my colleagues,"
Romanow said. "Saskatchewan farm families are expected to suffer a 107 per
cent drop in farm incomes this year. I explained why. The European Union
(E.U.) provides 56 cents in subsidy out of every dollar their farmers received
for wheat. The United States provides 38 cents out of every dollar to their
producers. Canada has eliminated its matching supports, and now only provides
9 cents out of every dollar."
"Our producers can compete anywhere in the world - but only on a level playing
field. We don't have that today."
At their meeting today, Canada's premiers joined Romanow in calling for a
strong national response to the crisis facing Canada's grain producers.
In a communique issued today, premiers called on Ottawa to:
aggressively negotiate a permanent end to agricultural subsidies in the
E.U. and U.S.;
restore adequate income protection to farmers;
work with provinces to provide diaster relief;
improve the grain handling and transportation system and return
efficiencies to farmers; and
halt rail line abandonment at least until the Kroeger process tables
its recommendations.
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For more information, contact:
Rob Cunningham
Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs
Phone: (306) 536-1445