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By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

Warkentin wants a meeting on “a crisis in agriculture”

Nov 4, 2019 | 2:27 PM

The MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie says there is a crisis on Peace Region farms and he is hoping the federal government will do something to help.

Half of the crop is still out in the field in some places.

Chris Warkentin says he will be meeting this week with some colleagues from the Conservative caucus who are seeing the same thing in their ridings.

“We know that there are communities from southern Manitoba all the way to the British Columbia Peace Country who have had really difficult, wet conditions this harvest. It’s something I think we’re seeing across much of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.”

Warkentin wants the federal government to help.

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“Obviously, deferring or dropping the interest on government-backed loans to farmers. I think there are a number of the things they can do (to support) farms that have seen complete write-offs. Obviously, spring clean-up is going to be a major challenge in some communities.”

He adds one issue compounding the problem in other provinces is the carbon tax farmers are charged after running their grain dryers.

“In Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia, they are facing massive carbon tax bills for natural gas to dry grain. In Alberta of course, we know that’s coming in the first part of the year. The Prime Minister has promised that he’s going to impose the carbon tax on Albertans and so that tax is going to hit Alberta farmers here shortly.”

The date and time for that meeting have not be announced.