national
farmers union
national
farmers union
WASKATENAU, Alta.-"It is a cruel irony that when Minister Vanclief finally comes to B.C. to announce disaster relief, it is for Ontario and Quebec farmers and not B.C. or Alberta Peace River-area farmers. There is no doubt that Ontario and Quebec farmers are deserving, and we fully support the swift compensation coming from both levels of government, but their swift compensation merely highlights the continuing lack of action for disaster victims in the Peace River region," said NFU Vice-President Cory Ollikka.
Minister of Agriculture Lyle Vanclief announced today, at the Dairy Farmers of Canada National Conference in Vancouver, that Ontario and Quebec farmers would be compensated for lost milk, generator-rental costs, dead animals, clean-up costs in maple bushes, damage to buildings, lost inventory, costs of pruning fruit trees, and other expenses resulting from the ice storm.
The Peace River Region has experienced two years of weather-related disasters in a row. A wet harvest in 1996, abnormally early and heavy '96-'97 snowfall, and record spring rainfalls in 1997 made both seeding and harvest impossible for many farmers.
1996 Crop losses for B.C. and Alberta Peace River area farmers were estimated at $44.5 million (Canadian Agricultural Strategies Inc.). While there are no estimates for losses in 1997, given that farmers harvested only 25% of the acres that they would in a normal year, it seems that 1997 losses would exceed the $44.5 million loss in 1996.
"The cumulative loss of almost $90 million in two years has devastated farmers and requires immediate attention. Peace River-area farmers have received virtually nothing in disaster assistance," said Ollikka.
Ollikka continued: "The problem rests partly with the provincial premiers. Premiers Harris and Bouchard moved quickly to formally request federal government assistance--something Premiers Klein and Clarke have been unwilling to do for the Alberta and B.C. Peace River regions. If a disaster were declared, the federal government could then be approached to provide disaster relief money."
"The NFU commends Minister Vanclief for his swift action on behalf of farmers in Ontario and Quebec and strongly urges him, and the provincial premiers, to take similar action in Northern B.C. and Alberta. Existing safety net programs, such as NISA and Crop Insurance, are woefully inadequate to cover a disaster of this magnitude. All levels of government must work together to remedy this immediate need," concluded Ollikka.
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