By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan farm group looking for answers after federal budget

Apr 8, 2022 | 12:25 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has some questions for the federal government after the release of yesterday’s budget.

APAS President Ian Boxall said the first concern is with the next five-year federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement that is still being negotiated.

“We don’t have any indication of commitments to increase funding for most of our essential programming,” Boxall said. “In other areas, we have to wait and see if there is going to be more progress on agricultural priorities.”

Boxall was pleased to see the financial commitment to the Universal Broadband Fund but has some concerns.

“The federal government is committing $2.75 billion for improvements to high-speed internet access in rural and remote communities, but very little of that money has been spent to support rural Saskatchewan,” Boxall said.

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The federal government is planning to rebate $100 million from the carbon tax directly to farmers in provinces where the federal system applies, including Saskatchewan, but that funding does not reflect the actual increased costs of carbon pricing, according to Boxall.

“Our estimates show much higher costs for essential activities, like rail transportation, grain drying, and heating barns, and producers need to be exempted or rebated for these costs,” he said.

APAS said other initiatives, including infrastructure funding for road and rail to the Port of Vancouver, is a step in the right direction.

“There is also funding to improve supply chains for essential industries. We need governments to recognize our needs for better access and pricing for inputs,” Boxall said.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW