WARTMAN TO MEET WITH FEDERAL AGRICULTURE MINISTER ON APF

The Saskatchewan Government renewed its call today for the federal government to provide an Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) deal that is fair to the province's taxpayers.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said he will meet with federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell on the topic in Ottawa on December 2nd. Wartman said the financial requirements of the APF, and specifically the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program, put Saskatchewan at a clear disadvantage compared to provinces in the rest of Canada.

"In Saskatchewan, we are expected to pay about $156 per person to fund the provincial share of the 2003 CAIS program, compared to the average provincial per capita cost of $35 and the federal contribution of $27," Wartman said. "That isn't fair for our producers, or other Saskatchewan taxpayers."

Wartman would like Mitchell to consider a proposal where provincial spending on APF programs would be capped at two to three times the average per capita requirement of all provinces. The federal government would supply funds required above the cap.

"We are committed to changing the unfairness of the current APF funding formula," Wartman said. "Saskatchewan needs to present the same unified front on this issue as we did with Equalization. We need to stand by our principles until a new deal is in place."

Wartman said the province will provide annual support of nearly $100 million to the CAIS program to help Saskatchewan farm families in the interim – about three times the average per capita contribution of all other provinces in Canada.

"Money spent to support Saskatchewan farmers is always a good investment," Wartman said. "It generates jobs and wealth for the entire provincial economy. Those who claim that government believes this is a waste are misleading the public. It is obvious they need to do the math – on the APF and this province's investment in it."

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031