Released on October 27, 1999
Members of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba Farm Income Delegation leave today to meet
with decision-makers in Ottawa on October 28-29 to press for a $1.3 billion
trade equalization payment.
The Saskatchewan delegation has requested $1 billion, the Manitoba delegation
$300 million to off-set 1998 and 1999 income declines and help save the family
farm.
There will be a meeting with Prime Minister Jean Chretien to outline the
request of Saskatchewan and Manitoba farmers and to ensure he is fully aware of
the impact of low commodity prices on farm families.
Meetings have been arranged with several federal cabinet ministers who have a
responsibility for or a direct interest in agriculture issues. Members of the
delegation will also attend question period, appear before the House of Commons
Standing Committee on Agriculture and meet with a number of members of
parliament.
The Saskatchewan and Manitoba delegations include farm leaders, agribusinesses
and local government representatives, as well as representatives of all the
political parties in both provinces.
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For more information, contact:
Anna Arneson Rob Cunningham Donne Flanagan
Media Relations Media Relations Media Relations
Cell: (306) 536-0551 Cell: (306) 536-1445 Phone: (204) 945-1494
Media Backgrounder
Oct. 28, 1999
Saskatchewan Delegation:
Premier Roy Romanow
Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dwain Lingenfelter
Minister of Education and Leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, Jim
Melenchuk
Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs and member of the
Saskatchewan Liberal Party,
Jack Hillson
Saskatchewan Party Leader Elwin Hermanson
Harry Bastness, Saskatchewan Farm Support Review Committee
Leon Lueke, Saskatchewan Pork
Doug Thompson, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association
Larry Hiles, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Mike Badham, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association
Alfred Wagner, Pro-West Rally Group
Leroy Larsen, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
Stewart Wells, National Farmers Union
Ray Hilderman, Saskatchewan Canola Growers' Association
Noreen Johns, Saskatchewan Women's Agricultural Network
Sinclair Harrison, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
Minister of Highways and Transportation, Maynard Sonntag
Minister of Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing, Clay Serby
Mark Wartman, MLA, New Democratic Party
Bill Boyd, MLA, Saskatchewan Party
Dan D'Autremont, MLA, Saskatchewan Party
Bob Bjornerud, MLA, Saskatchewan Party
Donna Harpauer, MLA, Saskatchewan Party
Manitoba Delegation:
Premier Gary Doer
Minister of Agriculture and Food Rosann Wowchuk
Liberal Party Leader Jon Gerrard
Larry Maquire, MLA, Progressive Conservative Party
Marcel Hacault, Manitoba Pork Council
Brian Saunderson, Agricore
George Groeneveld, Agricore
Don Dewar, Keystone Agriculture Producers
Chris Hamblin, Keystone Agriculture Producers
Wayne Motherall, Association of Manitoba Municipalities
Art Enns, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association
Maxine Routledge, Manitoba Women's Institute
Marlin Beever, Manitoba Cattle Producers Association
Andy Baker, National Farmers Union
Wayne Drul, United Grain Growers
Lori Dangerfield, Brandon Chamber of Commerce
Members of the delegation can be contacted by calling:
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Manitoba
Anna Arneson Rob Cunningham Donne Flanagan
(cell) 306-536-0551 (cell) 306-536-1445 (204) 945-1494
Itinerary (subject to change)
Wednesday, October 27, 1999
--arrive in Ottawa
--check into hotel
Crowne Plaza Hotel – (613) 237-3600
Thursday, October 28, 1999
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. - Formal Meeting of Sask. – Man. delegation in
Crowne Plaza – International Ballroom – Section C
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. - Rick Borotsik – PC Agriculture Critic
668 Confederation Building
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. - Press Conference – Crowne Plaza Hotel
- International Ballroom – Section C
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Dick Proctor, NDP Agriculture Critic
and NDP M.P.s, 315 East Block
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Howard Hilstrom, Reform Agriculture Critic
and Reform M.P.s, 362 East Block
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. - Gilles Duceppe, B.Q.
533 S Centre Block
11:00 a.m. - Meeting – Premier Romanow, Premier Doer and
Prime Minister Chretien
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 Noon - Joe Fontana, Leader of Liberal Caucus
237 C Centre Block
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. - Lunch – Delegates on their own
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. - Rural Liberal M.P.s (to be confirmed)
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. - Question Period – House of Commons
3:15 – 5:15 p.m. - Delegation of Federal Cabinet Ministers
(Premiers to lead Sask. – Man. delegation) Canadian Room, Chateau Laurier
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. - House of Commons Standing Committee on
Agriculture Room 308 House of Commons (Agriculture Ministers to lead some
members of Sask. – Man. delegation)
Friday, October 29, 1999
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. - Formal Meeting of full Sask. – Man. delegation
- International Ballroom – Section C
10:00 – 12:00 p.m. - Meetings with Senators (time and place to be
confirmed)
Lunch - Delegates on their own
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. - Preston Manning, Leader of the Opposition
(time and place to be confirmed)
Background on Saskatchewan Delegation's Request
Saskatchewan farm families are facing back to back years of extremely poor
incomes. The 1998 and 1999 farm income shortfalls represent a $1 billion gap
from average farm income levels. Low commodity prices for almost all
commodities are damaging cash flow for Saskatchewan farmers.
Low farm incomes and restricted cash flow increase dependency on off-farm
incomes, reduce the ability to cover even basic living expenses, and increase
the incidence of financial failure on the farm. Rural communities suffer with
reduced economic activity for businesses. The entire provincial economy feels
the impact because of the importance of agriculture. There is risk to the
rural infrastructure associated with an exodus of people.
Low world agriculture commodity prices are caused by excess production of
grains and oilseeds worldwide due in no small part to continued use of
subsidies in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). Domestic
support by national governments in the EU and the US are several times the
levels of support to Canadian farmers.
Federal policy changes in Canada have negatively influenced farm incomes in
Saskatchewan. A $320 million decrease in freight subsidies took effect in
August of 1995 and the loss of railway productivity sharing is costing
Saskatchewan producers an additional $100 million annually. Freight costs for
an average 1,000 seeded acre farm in the Yorkton area of Saskatchewan have
increased from $9,600 in 1994/95 to $29,600 in 1999/00 – a tripling of costs.
The existing farm safety net programs such as crop insurance and the Net Income
Stabilization Account (NISA) have been used extensively by Saskatchewan
producers. However, there are clearly gaps in the level of support offered by
these programs. The Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance (AIDA) Program was
intended to fill these gaps but it has fallen far short of adequacy. The vast
majority of producers in Saskatchewan are left without any support from AIDA.
More than simple fixes to AIDA are required to solve the problem.
The next round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) must put
our producers on a level playing field internationally by eliminating the trade
distorting subsidies of other governments. However, any solutions to be found
through the WTO will not happen in the short term. The Government of Canada
must support agriculture in the meantime.
Given the need for immediate help, the Saskatchewan delegation respectfully
asks the federal government to provide a $1 billion Agriculture Trade
Equalization Payment for Saskatchewan farm families.
The Agriculture Trade Equalization Payment should be made through a program
which combines a land based payment and other approaches to ensure that all
commodities are covered fairly and effectively.
Given the urgency of the situation facing farm families, it is imperative that
the Agriculture Trade Equalization Payments are in producers' hands by December
1999.
In addition to addressing the short term issues, effective long term safety
nets and other national agricultural initiatives must be developed to provide
the stability and environment necessary for growth in the agricultural industry.
SASKATCHEWAN DELEGATION DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS
Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Depart Regina at 11:45 a.m. (Canadian#1453). Arrive into Calgary at 1:32 p.m.
Depart Calgary at 4:05 p.m. (Canadian#906). Arrive into Ottawa at 9:59 p.m.
Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag
Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Clay Serby
Mark Wartman, New Democratic Party MLA
Larry Hiles (Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce)
Mike Badham (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Assocation)
Alfred Wagner (Pro-West Rally Group)
Ray Hilderman (Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association)
Depart Edmonton at 2:40 p.m. (A/C#1812). Arrive into Calgary at 3:30 p.m.
Depart Calgary at 4:00 p.m. (A/C#174). Arrive into Ottawa at 9:38 p.m.
Doug Thompson (Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association)
Depart Saskatoon at 4:15 p.m. (A/C#198). Arrive into Toronto at 10:17 p.m.
Depart Toronto at 11:55 p.m. (A/C#134). Arrive into Ottawa at 12:51 a.m. (Oct.
28)
Premier Roy Romanow
Deputy Premier and Agriculture and Food Minister Dwain Lingenfelter
Jim Melenchuk, Liberal Leader
Leader of the Opposition, Elwin Hermanson
Bill Boyd, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Dan D'Autrement, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Donna Harpauer, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Harry Bastness (Farm Support Review Committee)
Leon Leuke (Sask Pork)
Stewart Wells (National Farmers Union)
Noreen Johns (Saskatchewan Women's Agricultural Network)
Depart Regina at 4:15 p.m. (AirBC#1942). Arrive into Winnipeg at 6:40 p.m.
Depart Winnipeg at 7:35 p.m. (A/C#188). Arrive into Ottawa at 11:00 p.m.
Sinclair Harrison (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities)
Leroy Larsen (Saskatchewan Wheat Pool)
Friday, October 29, 1999
Depart Ottawa at 3:35 p.m. (A/C#179). Arrive into Winnipeg at 5:18 p.m.
Depart Winnipeg at 7:10 p.m. (AirBC#1866). Arrive into Regina at 7:40 p.m.
Sinclair Harrison (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities)
Depart Ottawa at 5:00 p.m. Arrive into Regina at 9:32 p.m.
Leroy Larsen (Saskatchewan Wheat Pool)
Depart Ottawa at 5:00 p.m. (Canadian#905). Arrive into Calgary at 7;20 p.m.
Depart Calgary at 9:45 p.m. (Canadian#1380). Arrive into Regina at 11:23 p.m.
Highways and Transportation Minister Maynard Sonntag
Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Clay Serby
Mark Wartman, New Democratic Party MLA
Larry Hiles (Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce)
Mike Badham (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association)
Alfred Wagner (Pro-West Rally Group)
Ray Hilderman (Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association)
Depart Ottawa at 5:00 p.m. (A/C#145). Arrive into Toronto at 5:59 p.m. Depart
Toronto at 9:20 p.m. (A/C#157). Arrive into Saskatoon at 10:45 p.m.
Premier Roy Romanow
Deputy Premier and Agriculture and Food Minister Lingenfelter
Jim Melenchuk, Liberal Leader
Leader of the Opposition Elwin Hermanson
Bill Boyd, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Dan D'Autrement, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Donna Harpauer, Saskatchewan Party MLA
Harry Bastness (Farm Support Review Committee)
Leon Leuke (Sask Pork)
Stewart Wells (National Farmers Union)
Wayne Bacon (Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association)
Noreen Johns (Saskatchewan Women's Agricultural Network)
Depart Ottawa at 7:00 p.m. (A/C#153). Arrive into Regina at 9:56 p.m.
Doug Thompson (Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association)
