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Farmers rally in Ottawa to seek billions in aid
Updated Wed. Apr. 5 2006 6:42 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
As thousands of angry, cash-strapped farmers rallied on Parliament Hill, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said he would fight for an additional $2.5 billion in farm aid over five years.
Strahl told reporters Wednesday he hoped his cabinet colleagues would approve the funding in the coming budget.
While the farmers demand cash now, saying they can't otherwise afford to plant crops, a process that starts for some farmers in a few weeks.
In addition, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture says farmers need $6.1 billion in immediate funding to counter the rich subsidies paid to U.S. and European farmers.
No new federal money is coming until after the federal budget, Strahl said.
The budget date hasn't been set yet.
Strahl promised farmers that the government will replace the Canadian Agriculture Income Support program, or CAIS.
The program supposedly provides a safety net for farmers to protect their operations from both small and large drops in income.
But many farmers have expressed frustration over the complexity of the program and the inadequacy in the way it's been run.
However, Strahl said he can't make any changes without the support of the provinces, because it's a federal-provincial program.
"If we're going to get a speedy change to that program, ... I'm going to need more co-operation from the provinces to make that speedy change," Strahl said during a Wednesday morning news conference in Ottawa.
"And I would urge farmers who believe, as I do, that the CAIS program is not the right tool, is not working for them, they need to bring pressure to bear on the provincial government and tell them that program is not working. Let's get to the next generation of agriculture programs and let's do it now."
Farmers 'against the wall'
Strahl made the announcement as thousands of farmers gathered on Parliament Hill for a day-long protest.
Hundreds of tractors, trucks and buses clogged Ottawa streets Wednesday morning as they made their way to the event.
"U.S. farmers don't care what they sell their crop for because Uncle Sam tops it off for them, so they're never losing money," protest organizer Paul Vogel, a farmer from the Cornwall, Ont., told The Canadian Press as he approached Ottawa in his vehicle.
"Let's say Canadian corn growers get $100 a ton -- the U.S. farmer is getting, I believe, around $165 to $170 a ton for his corn."
Despite Strahl's promise, Vogel said he wasn't optimistic about the government moving quickly to address farmers' concerns.
"They promised $750 million would be released as soon as they came into power and as soon as they were voted in they say, 'well, we'll see when and how that money will be released'," said Vogel.
"We're hoping they're going to have a change of heart and realize what's going on, but we don't have a lot of hope."
"The anger's building on the farm. The desperation, really, is building," Perth, Ont. area farmer John Vanderspank told CTV Ottawa.
"We have eight-generation farms that are in desperate financial trouble. And that's just not right."
Bob Friesen, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said Strahl's proposal is a "very, very important" first step.
But with farmers reeling in debt, cut off from banks and unable to plant crops in time for the spring, Friesen said they need help now.
"They are desperate, they are frustrated and they are right up against the wall," Friesen told CTV Newsnet. "We have got lots of farmers across Canada. This is an income crisis -- an unprecedented income crisis across Canada."
Strahl said the government has already sent 73,000 cheques worth nearly $400 million under the grain-and-oilseeds program -- with more to come.
But he said the problem can't be solved by simply throwing money at it, and that the issue will require international solutions.
Question Period
The farm income crisis was the first issue Prime Minister Stephen Harper faced in his first question period in the Commons.
Opposition Leader Bill Graham blasted Harper for not making agriculture one of his top five priorities in Tuesday's throne speech.
Harper fired back by accusing the previous Liberal government of underfunding farm income programs and causing the agriculture crisis.
During the election campaign, Harper promised to add $500 million a year to farm support programs, as well continue with $755 million in emergency assistance to grain and oilseed producers, announced by the Liberal government on Nov. 23, 2005.
"As you know, in the last campaign we did commit to significantly increase agricultural funding. We intend to follow through on those commitments," said Harper Wednesday after a meeting with his caucus.
When asked to comment on the Liberals push for billions more in aid for farmers, Harper said it's a "little late" for the Liberals to call for a funding increase now.
"They had their chance and they left farmers with the mess we do have today," said Harper.
With files from CTV Ottawa and The Canadian Press
Updated Wed. Apr. 5 2006 6:42 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
As thousands of angry, cash-strapped farmers rallied on Parliament Hill, Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said he would fight for an additional $2.5 billion in farm aid over five years.
Strahl told reporters Wednesday he hoped his cabinet colleagues would approve the funding in the coming budget.
While the farmers demand cash now, saying they can't otherwise afford to plant crops, a process that starts for some farmers in a few weeks.
In addition, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture says farmers need $6.1 billion in immediate funding to counter the rich subsidies paid to U.S. and European farmers.
No new federal money is coming until after the federal budget, Strahl said.
The budget date hasn't been set yet.
Strahl promised farmers that the government will replace the Canadian Agriculture Income Support program, or CAIS.
The program supposedly provides a safety net for farmers to protect their operations from both small and large drops in income.
But many farmers have expressed frustration over the complexity of the program and the inadequacy in the way it's been run.
However, Strahl said he can't make any changes without the support of the provinces, because it's a federal-provincial program.
"If we're going to get a speedy change to that program, ... I'm going to need more co-operation from the provinces to make that speedy change," Strahl said during a Wednesday morning news conference in Ottawa.
"And I would urge farmers who believe, as I do, that the CAIS program is not the right tool, is not working for them, they need to bring pressure to bear on the provincial government and tell them that program is not working. Let's get to the next generation of agriculture programs and let's do it now."
Farmers 'against the wall'
Strahl made the announcement as thousands of farmers gathered on Parliament Hill for a day-long protest.
Hundreds of tractors, trucks and buses clogged Ottawa streets Wednesday morning as they made their way to the event.
"U.S. farmers don't care what they sell their crop for because Uncle Sam tops it off for them, so they're never losing money," protest organizer Paul Vogel, a farmer from the Cornwall, Ont., told The Canadian Press as he approached Ottawa in his vehicle.
"Let's say Canadian corn growers get $100 a ton -- the U.S. farmer is getting, I believe, around $165 to $170 a ton for his corn."
Despite Strahl's promise, Vogel said he wasn't optimistic about the government moving quickly to address farmers' concerns.
"They promised $750 million would be released as soon as they came into power and as soon as they were voted in they say, 'well, we'll see when and how that money will be released'," said Vogel.
"We're hoping they're going to have a change of heart and realize what's going on, but we don't have a lot of hope."
"The anger's building on the farm. The desperation, really, is building," Perth, Ont. area farmer John Vanderspank told CTV Ottawa.
"We have eight-generation farms that are in desperate financial trouble. And that's just not right."
Bob Friesen, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said Strahl's proposal is a "very, very important" first step.
But with farmers reeling in debt, cut off from banks and unable to plant crops in time for the spring, Friesen said they need help now.
"They are desperate, they are frustrated and they are right up against the wall," Friesen told CTV Newsnet. "We have got lots of farmers across Canada. This is an income crisis -- an unprecedented income crisis across Canada."
Strahl said the government has already sent 73,000 cheques worth nearly $400 million under the grain-and-oilseeds program -- with more to come.
But he said the problem can't be solved by simply throwing money at it, and that the issue will require international solutions.
Question Period
The farm income crisis was the first issue Prime Minister Stephen Harper faced in his first question period in the Commons.
Opposition Leader Bill Graham blasted Harper for not making agriculture one of his top five priorities in Tuesday's throne speech.
Harper fired back by accusing the previous Liberal government of underfunding farm income programs and causing the agriculture crisis.
During the election campaign, Harper promised to add $500 million a year to farm support programs, as well continue with $755 million in emergency assistance to grain and oilseed producers, announced by the Liberal government on Nov. 23, 2005.
"As you know, in the last campaign we did commit to significantly increase agricultural funding. We intend to follow through on those commitments," said Harper Wednesday after a meeting with his caucus.
When asked to comment on the Liberals push for billions more in aid for farmers, Harper said it's a "little late" for the Liberals to call for a funding increase now.
"They had their chance and they left farmers with the mess we do have today," said Harper.
With files from CTV Ottawa and The Canadian Press
