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Beef
farmers grateful for continued provincial support
September
2, 2003 (Guelph) – Beef farmers are grateful for the ongoing support
shown by the Ontario government and call upon the federal government to
demonstrate similar leadership as the BSE crisis continues into its 15th
week.
The
provincial government has responded to a request from the Ontario
Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) by committing an additional $30 million to
a third phase of disaster assistance.
OCA president Ron Wooddisse said the new funds will enable
producers to receive additional support for Ontario-fed cattle sold for
slaughter and will provide the first compensation for 18,000 beef farmers
not covered under the first two programs (i.e. cow/calf farmers and
backgrounders).
OCA
director Dale Pallister said that the latest announcement will also allow
Ontario producers to remain competitive with their Alberta counterparts.
Said Pallister, “It’s reassuring to know that the Ontario government
will not allow us to be put at a competitive disadvantage due to the
recent Alberta announcement of extra support for producers in that
province.”
OCA,
in a letter to Agriculture and Agri Food Minister Lyle Vanclief, has
called on the Federal government to provide its 60 per cent share of
Ontario’s second and third phase funding announcements. Said Pallister,
“The federal government simply must realize that this is a national
crisis warranting national attention. “
The
federal government is insisting that future assistance be available only
when provinces sign onto the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF).
Said Wooddisse, “This is unacceptable.
OCA has identified significant changes required to the APF in order
for the program to provide meaningful coverage of losses due to BSE.”
He added that Helen Johns, Minister of Agriculture and Food, has
promised that payments to producers under the latest program will come as
early as the beginning of October – the same time line promised by the
federal government for those provinces signed on to the APF.
In
Ontario, there are approximately 21,000 beef producers who are estimated
to be losing about $4 million per week during the BSE situation.
Beef is Ontario’s second largest commodity in terms of annual
farm gate receipts with a value of approximately $1.2 billion.
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For further information:
OCA
President Ron Wooddisse, 519-638-3571
OCA
Director Dale Pallister, 519-923-5811 |
