national
farmers union
national
farmers union
SASKATOON, Sask. - National Farmers Union members participating in a concentrated telephone lobby campaign that targeted Liberal Members of Parliament to discuss the current prairie farm crisis have described it as "an outstanding success".
NFU members working out of the NFU Saskatoon office targeted rural caucus members of the Liberal Party for discussion of the crisis. The need for an immediate federal payout of $1 billion was emphasized as necessary to relieve the economic and social stress generated by low international grain prices, foreign export subsidies, rising input costs and weather-related circumstances.
The group reported that more than fifty contacts were made and useful discussions resulted. In addition, a number of callbacks are expected next week. Don Kinzie, a farmer from the Pike Lake area, told MPs that there was clear evidence that up to one-third of Saskatchewan farmers may not be in the position to seed crops next spring without some form of assistance.
"Our younger farmers are particularly vulnerable in this crisis. They will not be able to receive trade credit for fuel or inputs next spring as many of their bills for the current year have not been paid. While the world in general prepares itself for a possible Y2K crisis, the truth is that for thousands of our farmers, the Y2K crisis is already a reality," Kinzie stated.
The group reported that the offices of all Liberal rural caucus members had been contacted over a four-day period and it was evident that all of them were now aware of the problem in the west.
Coordinator of the campaign, Harvey Weir, a Perdue-area farmer, said approximately 50 calling points of NFU members had been established across the country.
"Once the success from all points has been assessed, we plan to continue this lobby effort early in the New Year. We don't intend to let the MPs forget we're out here nor do we intend to allow the Prime Minister or Finance Minister Paul Martin think this crisis is going to blow over," Weir concluded.
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