Government of Canada Hears From Farmers on Farm Income Challenges (February 1, 2005)

OTTAWA, January 31, 2005 – Wayne Easter, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Agri-Food with special emphasis on Rural Development, says he’s pleased with the response he received from Canadian farmers during two weeks of consultations. Mr. Easter met with farmers from across the country between Jan. 17-29 to hear first-hand the income pressures they face and potential solutions.


“Farmers came to these meetings with ideas and a willingness to work with governments and their industry partners to find solutions and that’s encouraging,” said Mr. Easter. “A wide range of issues and ideas were discussed, from suggested regulatory changes to concerns about industry concentration beyond the farmgate to calls for investment tax credits and other tax measures. They deserve further investigation and that’s the next step.”


Mr. Easter says analysis will be undertaken on the issues identified in the consultations, and an action plan will be developed with industry and provincial input summer 2005. The action plan will be reviewed by federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture at their annual meeting this July.


Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell asked Mr. Easter to take a lead role in the consultations and the development of the action plan.


“I would like to thank Mr. Easter for undertaking this consultative process,” said Minister Mitchell. “This is an important issue and I look forward to receiving the report. Our farmers must be able to make a better return from the market if this industry is to continue to make a contribution to the Canadian economy and the Canadian way of life.”


The Canadian Federation of Agriculture helped organize the consultations.


Farmers and other industry stakeholders can continue to participate in the farm income consultations by sending comments, suggestions and submissions to http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.cfm?s1=contacts&page=emailsec.


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For more information, media may contact:

Elizabeth Whiting
Minister’s Office
Ottawa
(613) 759-1059


Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
(613) 759-7972