•
Replace CAIS with separate farm income stabilization and disaster
relief programs. The new income stabilization program
will be a simpler, more responsive program that properly addresses
the cost of production, market revenue, and inventory evaluation.
The federal government should be ready to pitch in when disaster
strikes, funding disaster relief separately, above and beyond
its income stabilization program;
•
Commit an additional $500 million annually to farm support programs;
•
Continue with the $755 million in emergency assistance to grain
and oilseed producers
announced on November 23, 2005, and ensure that this money reaches
farmers as quickly as possible;
•
Ensure that agricultural industries that choose to operate under
domestic supply management remain viable. Canada needs
efficient production planning, market-based returns to producers,
and predictable imports to operate domestic supply management
systems;
•
Give western grain farmers the freedom to make their own marketing
and transportation decisions. Western grain farmers
should be able to participate voluntarily in the Canadian Wheat
Board;
•
Defend Canada’s agricultural sectors when negotiating
international trade agreements. A Conservative government
will seek better market access for Canadian agricultural and
agri-food products in foreign markets. We will support the phased
reduction of all trade-distorting barriers and the rapid elimination
of all agriculture export subsidies. We will pursue strong,
rules-based trade liberalization in conjunction with all other
countries that are members of the World Trade Organization;
•
Implement a Green Cover Crop Program to protect prairie farmers.
Severe flooding in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba has adversely
affected the opportunity for farmers to harvest their normal
crop. A Green Crop Cover Program will create a compensation
fund for farmers facing crop damage caused by severe flooding;
and
•
Require 5 per cent average renewable content in Canadian gasoline
and diesel fuel, such as ethanol and biodiesel, by 2010. |
