By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday November 9, 2021

Nov 9, 2021 | 12:05 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – There are some familiar faces in Erin O’Toole’s shadow cabinet.

Alberta Member of Parliament John Barlow will return as the Agriculture and Agri-Food critic. Barlow had served in the post under former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.

Quebec MP Luc Berthold is the shadow minister for Health but also has a strong background in agriculture.

Saskatchewan MP Randy Hoback will serve as shadow minister of International Trade and Supply Chain Resilience.

Parliament resumes Nov. 22.

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The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is calling on the province to reject proposals which call for lower rural municipal tax rates for resource and processing industries.

The Saskatchewan Growth Coalition released its platform calling for the Saskatchewan government to change the mill rate from .75 to 2.0 on all property classes.

APAS President Todd Lewis said the proposal is a significant change in how taxes are distributed across different property classes in rural areas and would result in agricultural property taxes more than doubled in some areas of the province.

He said agricultural ratepayers will have to make up the difference for any reductions for other sectors.

“Farmers and ranchers built our essential rural infrastructure over the decades, and we are now at risk of subsidizing other users that want to take advantage of our investment,” Lewis said.

The coalition said the change will make the mill rate fairer for the natural resource, manufacturing, and construction sectors.

Lewis said the message is overlooking the fact that agricultural producers will be the ones to pick up the bill.

“It is important that our public infrastructure is maintained and expanded without imposing undue costs on family farm businesses,” he said.

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The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has welcomed a new board member.

Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Farm Policy Analyst Peter Sykanda, (OFA), was elected to the seven-person board.

Sykanda has expertise in farm labour and safety, climate change, rural internet connectivity, and advocating for the increased attention and support for farmer mental health.

Re-elected to the board was Carolyn Van Den Heuvel with Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and Dean Anderson with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.

Dan Trottier of Tatonga Inc. becomes the board chair for the 2021-22 year.

CASA is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families, and agricultural workers.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW