2000.05EM Disaster Assistance for Prairie Farmers to Mitigate Cumulative Effects of Unprecedented Rainfall
Whereas: Canadian Farmers have been experiencing distress because of the unequal trading conditions prevailing internationally with Canada subsidizing agricultural production at an average 9% level compared to 38% in the US and 56% in the EU; and
Whereas: family farmers throughout Canada, but particularly in the prairies, are finding it difficult to diversify their crops after the loss of the Crow Rate transportation subsidy, the decline in most commodity prices, and the food pricing system which too often enriches the middle men while impoverishing the producers; and
Whereas: farmers in South West Manitoba and South East Saskatchewan experienced an unprecedented and extraordinarily heavy rain in the spring of >99 which has not drained away and which is making much of the land non-arable for a projected period of 3 years; and
Whereas: the social and economic impact on families and businesses in these affected rural communities has been increasingly severe in spite of the provincial grant of $50 per acre in ‘99, and the impressive level of local community support; and
Whereas: the Federal/Provincial Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) generally cost-share at a ratio of 90:10, but compensate only for property damage and not for the degeneration of the soil, or the cost of weed control, applied fertilizer and forage restoration; and
Whereas: the Federal Government has refused to broaden DFAA coverage or to participate in any other one-time cost-shared program for the affected farmers; therefore be it
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada:
a. to recognize the continuing disaster situation caused by excess moisture that has waterlogged the land belonging to farmers in South West Manitoba and South East Saskatchewan; and
b. to expand the eligibility criteria for disaster assistance to include costs and foregone income relating to damage to land; and
c. to cooperate with the provinces in revising legislation to ensure prompt and fair cash assistance to affected Canadian farmers in the true spirit of the law.