Liberal agricultural policy offers positives for farmers

OTTAWA, Sept. 19, 2008--The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) welcomed today's Liberal agriculture policy platform, which has been announced in an election campaign that to date has been short on agriculture initiatives.

The CFA and its members have been calling for regionally flexible and responsive business risk management programs, as outlined in the CFA's Agri-Flex proposal. The announcement of the $564 million Regional Flexibility Fund clearly recognizes the need to move away from the cookie cutter approach to agricultural policy and provides the base funding toward filling the current gaps in business risk management programs under the Growing Forward suite of programs. 

'Support for farmers representing hard-hit regions and those in specific struggling commodity sectors, such our livestock producers, is key,' said Laurent Pellerin, CFA 1st Vice President. 'We are encouraged to see that this is addressed in the Liberal platform.'

Federation members have also been urging governments to support the CFA's 'Grown in Canada' initiative, a national program to promote high quality Canadian-grown food, through a well-funded national communications campaign targeted to consumers. The Liberal plan to invest $30-million to promote farmers' markets and strengthen the brand of Canadian-grown food was welcomed news.

As well, while supportive of the government's decision to conduct a service review under the recently passed Bill C-8, CFA has repeatedly requested a full costing review of railway grain transportation. CFA members were pleased to see this priority included in the Liberal platform. 

Additionally, CFA was encouraged to see recognition that farmers alone should be responsible for determining the fate of orderly marketing structures, and welcomed the commitment to increased child care spaces.

As for the Green Shift proposal, CFA has in the last few months voiced many concerns on behalf of farmers.

'While farm groups acknowledge that some changes have been made in response to farmer concerns with the Green Shift, there continue to be many questions around the costs of auditing, the tax on diesel, and the need for an established cap and trade system,' said Ron Bonnett, 2nd Vice President of the CFA.

By contrast, while little has been announced from other parties, CFA and its members were very pleased to see the Conservative announcement on the proposed cut in excise tax to diesel (which could result in upwards of $40 million in savings to farmers), and the parental leave benefits for those who are self-employed, which may prove valuable to farm families.

Apart from a commitment to child care spaces -- a particular concern for rural Canada -- even less is known to date on the NDP platform and its initiatives for agriculture.

CFA today released its Cast a Vote for Agriculture booklet outlining the issues that need to be addressed. CFA encourages all parties to support agriculture and the suggestions put forward within the booklet, which would work toward developing a strong and vibrant agricultural sector.

About the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
 
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, national and inter-provincial commodity organizations, and cooperatives from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.