Aid absolutely critical now
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2002
Farm leaders deliver message to top federal cabinet ministers
(SASKATOON) - The government has to address trade injury immediately: that was the message delivered today by members of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) to four key federal cabinet ministers, prairie premiers and deputy premiers and agriculture ministers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
CFA President Bob Friesen, accompanied by representatives of Keystone Agricultural Producers (Manitoba), Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Wild Rose Agricultural Producers (Alberta) pressed the case for immediate financial assistance to Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief, International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew, Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale and Finance Minister Paul Martin.
“It is absolutely critical the federal government announce bridging assistance to Canadian farmers before the next federal-provincial meeting,” said CFA President Bob Friesen following the meeting. “It is the only way producers can proceed with confidence in working with the government to build a long-term agriculture policy framework.”
The CFA is calling on the government to make an investment in transitional assistance to producers to mitigate trade injury caused by high foreign subsidies and to combat the lasting effects of weather-related disasters. CFA is stressing, however, that bridging assistance now must not detract from government support for long-term planning.
“This has to be serious money from the government. The estimated loss to farmers from trade injury alone is $1.3 billion. This problem cannot be addressed by moving money around between existing programs,,” stated Friesen. “And the critics out there have to realize this is not a subsidy. This is an investment in one of the biggest industry contributors to the Canadian economy. With this assistance agriculture can transition smoothly to a long-term approach, to a successful, sustainable and profitable industry. All of Canada will benefit from that.”
The CFA representatives also spoke this afternoon with Deputy Prime Minister John Manley by conference call to continue to deliver this message.
-30-
Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.
Contact:
Kieran Green, CFA Communications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633, info@cfafca.ca
Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)
Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)
