Released on February 24, 2000
Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food Dwain Lingenfelter todayoutlined the features of the $1 billion farm relief package announced by Prime
Minister Jean Chretien and Premier Roy Romanow in Ottawa.
The package includes the following initiatives:
One-time payment of $260 million to help Saskatchewan farmers complete
their adjustment to the elimination of the Crow Benefit – funded $180
million federal and $80 million Saskatchewan – paid out to grain
farmers on the basis of eligible net sales.
$40 million of Saskatchewan initiatives – with further details to be
provided when the Saskatchewan budget comes down.
AIDA payments of $300 million – including $115 million from
Saskatchewan – as the province stays in AIDA for the 1999 claim year.
Federal interest-free spring cash advances of up to $400 million in
2000.
"These initiatives will help the agricultural industry to pay cropping expenses
in 2000 and to continue their adjustment process," Lingenfelter said. "A
strong agriculture sector is important not only to regional economics, but the
entire Canadian economy.
"This package took a lot of hard negotiating. But it does show, that in the
end, both the federal and the provincial government are prepared to do what
they can to assist a sector so very important to the economic development of
Saskatchewan."
Further details on the $1 billion package will be released in the weeks ahead.
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For more information, contact:
Hal Cushon
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5961