(file photo/CKOM News Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Canadian canola

Moe pressures Trudeau to support farmers

Apr 24, 2019 | 11:48 AM

Saskatchewan’s Premier is frustrated by federal inaction on a canola trade dispute with China.

Scott Moe wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for an update on the status of the trade talks and requested amendments to the Advance Payments Program.

“This follows up on a phone call we had on March 26 and a subsequent letter I initially sent on March 26 with respect to some interim relief that we could have in a way of access to capital for agricultural producers here in the province and Western Canada to ensure they have that access to put the crop in this spring,” Moe said. “This doesn’t solve the overarching challenge or problem we have in our market access to China, or to India or to Italy in the case of wheat. But what it does is prescribes an Advil, if you will, to alleviate the symptoms to some degree here.”

Moe said if producers are unable to move canola that is still in storage it gives them extra access to interest free capital to get the crop in the ground. He said the federal ministers were receptive to the idea and he had hoped a decision would have been made by now.

Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Oct 30, 2024

organic crop

Wild rice production plummets compared to 2023

Oct 23, 2024

Connecting Farmers to Available Land

Young Agrarians to host Land Linking Workshop in Kelowna

Oct 16, 2024

“If this decision is further delayed the decision then is ultimately that they are not moving forward because we will have our crop in the ground over the course of the next couple of weeks,” Moe said. “I am frustrated that they have had now three, almost four weeks to make a decision to support western Canadian agriculture and seem to be choosing not to do so and so that’s frustrating.”

Under Moe’s proposal the Advance Payment Program would be increased to $1 million per account with the full amount of the program being made temporarily interest free. It was also suggested the deadline for spring intake be extended to April 30.

—

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF