New Federal Farm Assistance

[melvill]

This morning the Regina Leader-Post is claiming that the feds are set to announce a national assistance package of more than $600 million for grains and oilseed producers.

You can read the story at: www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/news/story.html?id=6d2b0f8a-707f-4e38-bd7b-cf44bf1edb4f

[silverback]

If the CAIS program had been set up correctly? at the start, we wouldn't need a pre-election bailout would we?

[agstar77]

Would Reform / conservatives offer the same package if they are elected? What is their agenda for CAIS? Questions we need to ask now.

[cropduster]

77,sorry to see that you`d miss the nipple.........Such a proud Canuck!!!!I`m thinking if we had a change of gov`t we could actually earn our way with less bureaucracy.

[rowbott]

THis should be another reminder that political pressure has and always will dictate farm policy. Historically, every time there has been disasters, or governments searching for votes; money has flowed to farmers. IF we coupled this with the millions wasted on designing, developing and administering all the failed programs such as CAIS and its predecessors, the farmers might actually see a decent chunk of cash from government.

[silverback]

When things are going bad, it is hard for me to not gladly take some help from the taxpayers at large.

However, how much money would it really take out of the federal pockets to enhance the packing capacity, value added grain processing, or alternative uses for agri products? I won't say they don't give any cash to these areas, but a little more even investment in these areas might? lessen the need for big time bailouts.

Unless you are right in that the reason we have the big bailouts is to make us forget all the political shenanigans.