News Release
November 16, 2005

Conservative MPs stand up for grain, oilseed producers

OTTAWA – Conservative Members of Parliament delivered a one-two punch in the House of Commons yesterday on behalf of Canadian farmers. Opposition Agriculture Critic Diane Finley and Associate Opposition Agriculture Critic James Bezan asked the federal government why they have once again abandoned rural Canada and, in particular, why they refuse to help grain and oilseed producers who are suffering the worst economic crisis in 80 years.

“The Liberals love to talk about their phoney numbers,” said Bezan in reference to the release of the Liberals $40 billion ‘mini-budget’ this week. “But the truth is they’re ignoring reality. The facts are that grain and oilseed prices are below the cost of production, U.S. and European subsidies are driving down commodity prices and the CAIS program is not going to save family farms. This Liberal government had a chance to allot funds for farm aid in their mini-budget this week and chose not to.
“Why are Liberals ignoring these facts and ignoring our farmers?” asked Bezan.

Finley added: “The Liberals want to spend $40 billion, but not one penny of it will help anyone trying to scratch out a living by feeding our nation.”

Bezan has been meeting with corn, grain and oilseed growers, as well as other producers, at a series of roundtables and farm events this fall. Both he and Finley will attend similar such meetings across the country in the months to come. The purpose of these events is to gain feedback from farmers firsthand and, hopefully, draw the government’s attention to the crisis faced by Canadian farmers.

-30-