Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman will press the federal government for a federally-funded disaster assistance program at the next meeting of Canada’s agriculture ministers in Winnipeg on April 11-12, 2007.

The need for new disaster assistance programming remains a priority for Saskatchewan farmers.  At the previous meeting of ministers in November 2006, all provinces took the position that the federal government has to take the main responsibility for funding disaster programs.

“I will be pressing the federal government to make this commitment,” Wartman said.  “I also look forward to hearing the results of public consultations completed on the next generation of Agricultural Policy Framework programs.”

Another topic of interest is the status of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks.  “There has been no significant progress at the WTO for months,” Wartman said.  “Farmers need to know that Ottawa will defend their interests at the bargaining table, as well as negotiate agreements that meet the needs of both our export-oriented industries and the supply-managed industries.”

Other items on the agenda for the meeting include new details on recently released federal initiatives, such as the Producer Savings Account, and a progress report on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Enhanced Feed Ban Regulations, which come into effect on July 12, 2007.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Trish Alcorn
Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5389
Email: palcorn@agr.gov.sk.ca