47 minutes ago
By Tim Cook
SASKATOON (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to farm country Friday to announce $1 billion for farmers and, along the way, take a backhanded swipe at Saskatchewan NDP Premier Lorne Calvert.
Harper, speaking at a farm west of Saskatoon, said the money fulfils an election promise to replace the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program with "more predictable, bankable and responsive to the cost-price squeeze." "Canadian farmers deserve an ally in Ottawa and that's what they've got," said Harper, speaking in a Quonset hut beside fellow Saskatchewan MPs and supporters.
Harper said farmers need help because input prices have risen three times higher than production prices.
"This imbalance has caused hardship for farmers across the country and that's what brings me here today."
The funding includes:
-$600 million to kick-start new contributory-style producer savings accounts once agreements are reached with provinces and territories.
-A $400-million direct payment to producers this year to help address high production costs over the last four years.
Harper noted his Conservative government is also working with provinces on improving areas like production insurance and disaster relief.
Bob Friesen of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture called the new money "an investment in agriculture.
"It's very good news for farmers who are coming out of the worst four years in income in their history," he said.
David Marit, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, said "any time you see new money in agriculture you have to be excited about it.
"How the ($600-million) program is going to play out? We'll have to wait for the details."
The announcement was one of number made by Harper across the country this week, including more money for transit and for pollution-fighting projects in Toronto, and money to combat greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta.
A reporter noted Harper had accompanied Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach for those announcements, but that Calvert was not with him Friday.
"This is not a Canada-Saskatchewan announcement. This is a national program," he said.
He said they are discussing joint initiatives with a number of provinces but are struggling to get deals done in Saskatchewan on areas like funding for pollution-fighting projects and patient wait-time guarantees.
"These are two important things for the people of Saskatchewan," he said.
"Most of the provinces have signed on or are ready to sign on for these. The government of Saskatchewan isn't.
"I would encourage the government of Saskatchewan to sign.
"I know the government of Saskatchewan is not a supporter of our party federally, but I don't think partisan politics should stand in the way of making a good deal for the people of Saskatchewan," he said to a round of partisan applause.
Calvert's government has been pushing Harper's Tories to live up to their election promise to exclude non-renewable resource revenue from the equalization funding formula.
Harper said all will be answered in the March 19 budget.
"These will be a series of policies to establish predictable, principled, long-term transfer arrangements between the federal government, the provinces, and other levels of government.
"I'm confident we will fulfil our commitment and Saskatchewan will be a big winner. Whether it will be enough for the NDP is another question," he said to laughter.
By Tim Cook
SASKATOON (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to farm country Friday to announce $1 billion for farmers and, along the way, take a backhanded swipe at Saskatchewan NDP Premier Lorne Calvert.
Harper, speaking at a farm west of Saskatoon, said the money fulfils an election promise to replace the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program with "more predictable, bankable and responsive to the cost-price squeeze." "Canadian farmers deserve an ally in Ottawa and that's what they've got," said Harper, speaking in a Quonset hut beside fellow Saskatchewan MPs and supporters.
Harper said farmers need help because input prices have risen three times higher than production prices.
"This imbalance has caused hardship for farmers across the country and that's what brings me here today."
The funding includes:
-$600 million to kick-start new contributory-style producer savings accounts once agreements are reached with provinces and territories.
-A $400-million direct payment to producers this year to help address high production costs over the last four years.
Harper noted his Conservative government is also working with provinces on improving areas like production insurance and disaster relief.
Bob Friesen of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture called the new money "an investment in agriculture.
"It's very good news for farmers who are coming out of the worst four years in income in their history," he said.
David Marit, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, said "any time you see new money in agriculture you have to be excited about it.
"How the ($600-million) program is going to play out? We'll have to wait for the details."
The announcement was one of number made by Harper across the country this week, including more money for transit and for pollution-fighting projects in Toronto, and money to combat greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta.
A reporter noted Harper had accompanied Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach for those announcements, but that Calvert was not with him Friday.
"This is not a Canada-Saskatchewan announcement. This is a national program," he said.
He said they are discussing joint initiatives with a number of provinces but are struggling to get deals done in Saskatchewan on areas like funding for pollution-fighting projects and patient wait-time guarantees.
"These are two important things for the people of Saskatchewan," he said.
"Most of the provinces have signed on or are ready to sign on for these. The government of Saskatchewan isn't.
"I would encourage the government of Saskatchewan to sign.
"I know the government of Saskatchewan is not a supporter of our party federally, but I don't think partisan politics should stand in the way of making a good deal for the people of Saskatchewan," he said to a round of partisan applause.
Calvert's government has been pushing Harper's Tories to live up to their election promise to exclude non-renewable resource revenue from the equalization funding formula.
Harper said all will be answered in the March 19 budget.
"These will be a series of policies to establish predictable, principled, long-term transfer arrangements between the federal government, the provinces, and other levels of government.
"I'm confident we will fulfil our commitment and Saskatchewan will be a big winner. Whether it will be enough for the NDP is another question," he said to laughter.
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