Agriculture Elections Issues

[parsley]

Are you willing to encourage agriculture to seek a "stand on your own two feet" path?


This is AAFC's press release. Would you advocate that constituency meddling like this never sees the light of day?:

QUOTE
ANTIGONISH, Nova Scotia, April 16, 2010 - The Government of Canada is strengthening the meat packing and processing sector in Atlantic Canada. The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Central-Nova), announced an investment of $70,000 which will help Antigonish Abattoir upgrade their plant equipment and data tracking software and improve their traceability system.

"Canadian livestock producers have a great product to sell and that's why our Government is helping producers and meat processing here in Central Nova to capture new market opportunities beyond our shores," said Minister MacKay, who made the announcement on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "If meat processors are profitable and competitive, our producers will be able to access new markets and better prices for their top quality product making our economy stronger for the future."

Founded in 1963, Antigonish Abattoir employs 40 people and has the capacity to process 400 hogs and 150 lambs per week.

"Antigonish Abbatoir is pleased to work with the federal Government so that we could access this loan," said Herman Berfelo, President of Antigonish Abattoir Ltd. "This investment will help us upgrade our plant equipment and better track our production giving us a competitive edge when processing and selling our product to domestic and foreign markets."

The Government of Canada's $50-million Slaughter Improvement Program makes federal loans available to support sound business plans aimed at reducing costs, increasing revenues and improving operations of red meat packing and processing operations in Canada. The 2010 Budget provided an additional $10 million for the program.

With more than $20 billion in sales, the red meat industry is the single largest employer in the food industry in Canada.UNQUOTE

Would you as a farmer agree to recommend crap like this never sees the light of day and instead recommend a lending bank to the company? That's what banks do...make loans. Pars

[parsley]

Sausage Vic Toewes is on the hustings trying to buy votes with another AAFC press release:

QUOTE
CANADA'S ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN INVESTS IN MANITOBA'S HOG INDUSTRY

BLUMENORT, Manitoba, April 16, 2010 - The Government of Canada is delivering real results for the meat packing and processing sector in Manitoba. The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, today announced an investment of $567,500 in Country Meat and Sausage, which is being delivered through Canada's Economic Action Plan.

"This investment will allow Country Meat and Sausage to expand their production and pursue niche markets, giving livestock farmers more opportunities boost their bottom line," said Minister Toews, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "This is one more way that Canada's Economic Action plan is helping meat packers and processors become more innovative and competitive so that they can continue to strengthen the Canadian economy."

Country Meat and Sausage processes hogs for distribution throughout Winnipeg and southern Manitoba. This investment will help the family-run business reduce costs, purchase equipment and upgrade its facilities to meet federal requirements. It will also enable the company to expand production of its processed meats, meals and ready-to-eat food lines they have already developed.

The Government of Canada's $50 million Slaughter Improvement Program, as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, makes federal loans available to support sound business plans aimed at reducing costs, increasing revenues and improving operations of red meat packing and processing operations in Canada. The 2010 Budget provided an additional $10 million to the program.

With more than $20 billion in sales, the red meat industry is Canada's single largest employer in the food industry.UNQUOTE

Boy, oh boy, just what ag needs,... government-poking in the hog business.Been there, done that in Saskatchewan. Who's brainwave was this?

Let's get government OUT of agriculture. That was the way New Zealand's brought sucess to the FARMGATE. Get rid of the warbles and sausages feeding and promoting themselves. I hope I'm being diplomatic. Pars

[jensend]

then i guess we should have effective antitrust laws in canada which would allow for real competition in the processing sector so that smaller operators could innovate and seek out niche markets without being crushed. competition is what works; monopolies stifle creativity and make the economy inefficient.

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

"so that we could access this loan,"

THESE are LOANS!

What in the world is wrong with the federal government... who has lent billions to the banks basically interest free... lending a few loonies to Canadians?

This is truly one area (currency and financial management) the feds are responsible for...!

What...Do you own Big bank shares.... ?

[parsley]

Why even have banks if Governments take on the role as lenders? Shouldn't Governments's main role be to REGULATE loans, not loan money?

Can't have it both ways and be impartial.

TommyScmuck Inc. gets a government loan,when he flashes his CON card. Jack and Pals in a RedBox Inc. are refused a loan. Is that politics or is that politics? Pars

[parsley]

The Government of Canada has borrowed a lot of money lately. The deficit is growing, as is the debt.

Soooooo:

What % salary increase have MP's voted for themselves last session? What is the curret salry for an MP? More importantly, what are the benefits they have voted for themselves? Pension, medical etc.

Wouldn't it be prudent to recommend that MP's take a 10% decrease in salary, a 20% decrease in benefits, and a freeze on all of the above until the debt is paid off? Pars

[wilagro]

It would be more prudent to RUN for election so as to get some of those goodies for one's self wouldn't it?

Get busy pars' it would be better than digging in all of that dirt for chump change.

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

You forget that the federal civil service does not work for the Conservative Party... IT WORKS for Canadians no matter what politics they believe.

Many 'stimulus' projects were rejected that had 'Conservative' members promoting them.

If you have a specific ethics problem on who gets what loans... tell the ethics commissioner and RCMP if there was a problem. If you have actual proof... that certain people were handed money that were not properly screened and did not qualify... there are 101 ways and 1001 news organisations that would like to see your proof.

I am sick of CDN Agriculture paying big banks billions in intrest margins... when it is simply our own money being lent out in the first place.

If the interest cost is 1% and the banks charge 5% to decide who gets the money... we pay 4% more... for what?

It was Canadian currency being lent out... not us borrowing from the US or EU.

How do you think China does it Parsley... borrow the money from Canada to loan out to those in the Chinese economy?

When you put money on deposit... in a Canadian financial insitution... do you think they lend it back out to someone else... ? No they don't. That is why you can get your money on deposit back any time you request or need it.

I am tiered fo Goldman Sacks and the big banks that are too big to fail... raking in billions... and it comes straight out of our pockets... it to profits and bonus payments to those who created this disaster that we and our children must pay for the rest of our lives!

Selling junk dirivitaves... subprime whatevers... then having your hedge fund... profit from these instruments that were virtually assured of being a disaterous loss... IS FRAUD. The SEC charged them yesterday Parsley!

We need reform... big time... if we had it then the government wouldn't need to be making loans!

The CDN banks have a monopoly on funds from the Bank of Canada. This is not a de-regulated industry. At least PM Cretien was right; PM Martin and PM Harper didn't mess up Canada any more than we are now; by making CDN banks a monopoly disaster as bad as the US big 13 that are a total disaster!

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

Sorry, I was wrong... when I said:

'We need reform... big time... if we had it then the government wouldn't need to be making loans".

As long as we have the Canadian dollar... we as the Canadian people; will be responsible to regulate who these dollars are lent to... at what rate... and how many loonies are in circulation.

Currency is simply an issue of confidnece; by a nation or in the EU a union of nations!

Logic does not prevail. In the depths of the financial crisis... the loonie broke down more than the US greenback!

[parsley]

"You forget that the federal civil service does not work for the Conservative Party... IT WORKS for Canadians no matter what politics they believe."

You mean kinda like the CWB employees/appointees work so hard for farmers, Tom? (TIC) Keep smokin.


Wil, Not one sane person would vote for me. If I was appointed, I would be guaranteed hung on Parliament Hill with all three parties actively bidding on applying the noose as I am immune to loyalty pleas. Know thyself, I say. Pars

[parsley]

"If the interest cost is 1% and the banks charge 5% to decide who gets the money... we pay 4% more... for what?"


Simply put Tom, I am one of those women who like to get a little more interest than I do for the cash I hoard in the bank. Greedy? Yup Better in my pocket than yours, I say.