THRONE SPEECH PROVIDES REAL OPTIMISM FOR AGRICULTURE
“While our Prime Minister is committed to fulfilling the five key priorities we were elected on,
he is also very focused on helping our farmers.”

OTTAWA – Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, welcomed the commitment made to the agriculture industry during Tuesday’s Speech from the Throne presented by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

“Agriculture received more attention during the speech yesterday than any previous Throne Speech I’ve been a part of during my time in Ottawa,” said Breitkreuz. “While our Prime Minister is committed to fulfilling the five key priorities we were elected on, he is also very focused on helping our farmers.”

The Speech from the Throne, an outline of the direction the government will take in the first session of the 39th Parliament, reiterated the pledge of this government to realize its election promises. Canada’s five priorities – accountable government, lowering the GST, a patient wait-time guarantee, a choice in childcare and getting tough on crime – are the priorities Canadians voted for during the last federal election. However, our new Conservative government also understands there are areas, like agriculture, which also demand attention. The following is an excerpt from the Speech from the Throne:

“This Government recognizes the unique challenges faced by those who make their livelihood from our land and oceans in our vital natural resource and agriculture industries. It will take action to secure a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture, following years of neglect. It will respond to short-term needs, create separate and more effective farm income stabilization and disaster relief programs and work with producers and partners to achieve long-term competitiveness and sustainability.”

“We made promises during the election and we are committed to keeping those promises,” said Breitkreuz, adding the vow to scrap the gun registry has also not gone unnoticed. “Unlike our previous government, we are not trying to be all things to all people. The Liberals made everything a top priority and in the end they accomplished nothing.

“Prime Minister Harper is very focused on making government meaningful again, and we will carry out our promises. That’s why it is so significant to hear about agriculture in the Throne Speech. You can truly believe that we will see changes for the betterment of our farmers.

-30-

The Throne Speech, in its entirety is available at http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/leader/2006_april4.htm