Released on December 22, 2003
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Bob Speller and Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Clay Serby today announced that Saskatchewan has signed an agreement to implement the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF)."Saskatchewan is a key agricultural province and I welcome their participation in the APF," said Minister Speller. "This historic agreement reflects the commitment of governments to support producers and the agriculture and agri-food industry. It will give producers access to programs and services to strengthen the competitiveness of Saskatchewan agriculture."
"Saskatchewan is signing the APF because we were able to achieve a number of significant improvements over the previous safety net agreement," said Clay Serby, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization. "This is a significant financial commitment to help our agriculture industry respond to the opportunities and challenges that it will face in the future and I look forward to working with our new federal agriculture minister to improve the program further."
"The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has been working with both the federal and provincial governments to seek improvements to the APF. We are pleased with the progress we have made on negative margins, improved producer affordability and expanded caps," said APAS president Terry Hildebrandt. "We are also pleased that they have committed to an annual review of the effectiveness of the APF including looking at the adequacy of the commitment of funds. APAS will continue to work with both levels of government in a true partnership to create workable, strategic programs for Saskatchewan producers."
Neal Hardy, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) said, "I am pleased that the two Ministers have agreed to go ahead with the implementation of the APF. This will be a benefit to Saskatchewan producers and the agriculture sector as a whole."
"The enhanced review that is now part of the APF will help to ensure that APF programs meet the needs of Saskatchewan farmers into the future," said Harry Bastness, Chairperson of the Farm Support Review Committee (FSRC).
The APF implementation agreement will assist producers in managing their business risks through the new Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program and an enhanced production insurance program.
New APF programming in the areas of environment, food safety and quality, renewal and science and innovation is valued at $207.05 million over five years.
The APF, endorsed by federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture in 2001, helps Canadian agriculture maximize new opportunities at home and abroad by safeguarding and enhancing the food safety and quality system in Canada through science and environmentally sound agricultural practices. The federal government has committed $5.2 billion to support the APF in all regions of Canada. To ensure that programs continue to achieve intended results, a review will be conducted annually and will be overseen by a panel of industry stakeholders and experts.
Ministers Speller and Serby both recognize that Canadian agricultural producers are hurt by the large agricultural subsidies of other countries. Minister Speller affirmed that Canada is committed to eliminating trade-distorting subsidies and securing improved market access through the World Trade Organization negotiations. He also committed to providing regular updates to the provinces and farm organizations on the progress of those negotiations.
There are approximately 51,000 farms in Saskatchewan representing a total capital value of more than $30 billion. The agriculture industry in Saskatchewan has a total annual production of just over $6 billion.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Press Secretary Minister Speller's Office Ottawa Phone: 613-759-1022 | Scott Brown SAFRR Regina Phone: 306-787-4031 |
Media Relations AAFC Ottawa Phone: 613-759-7972 |