NEWS RELEASE
November 5, 1998 For Immediate Delivery
LIBERALS BROKE THEIR RED BOOK PROMISES AND NOW REFUSE TO HELP FARMERS
"Farmers gave Liberals a billion dollars to balance the books – now they’re left out in the cold."
Yorkton - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, says it’s pay back time for the Liberal government. "If the Liberals had kept the promises they made during the 1993 election, farmers wouldn’t be in this crisis," said Breitkreuz. In their 1993 Red Book the Liberals promised to introduce policies: ‘…reducing input costs to make farming more viable; introducing a new "whole farm" income stabilization program. Liberals believe that farm families need long-term programs to assist them in securing their future, …and stabilization programs to minimize the impact of market price fluctuations.’ Breitkreuz said, "The Liberals used these promises to get elected and then they did the opposite – they took a billion dollars from farmers to help balance the books." Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, says it’s pay back time for the Liberal government. "If the Liberals had kept the promises they made during the 1993 election, farmers wouldn’t be in this crisis," said Breitkreuz. In their 1993 Red Book the Liberals promised to introduce policies: ‘…reducing input costs to make farming more viable; introducing a new "whole farm" income stabilization program. Liberals believe that farm families need long-term programs to assist them in securing their future, …and stabilization programs to minimize the impact of market price fluctuations.’ Breitkreuz said, "The Liberals used these promises to get elected and then they did the opposite – they took a billion dollars from farmers to help balance the books."
Tuesday in the House of Commons, the Minister of Agriculture admitted that 1999 is going to be worse but continued to call the farm income crisis an ‘unfortunate reality’." The Minister also said that farmers ‘made a big contribution to putting the federal books back in the black.’ "Is this how he rewards farmers who are now making the ultimate sacrifice to help the Liberals balance the books?" asked Breitkreuz. Yesterday in Ottawa, Harry Ens, Manitoba Agriculture Minister confirmed, "Upwards of $1 billion has been committed by Western agriculture to help Paul Martin achieve a balanced budget."
Yesterday, Reform Leader Preston Manning, Breitkreuz and Jake Hoeppner, MP for Portage-Lisgar, held a press conference in the National Press Gallery to put even more pressure on the federal government. The Reform trio criticized the government for their poor handling of the agriculture portfolio. "The government forgets about agriculture when times are good and forgets to plan ahead," said Manning. Breitkreuz added, "The government allows a crisis to develop and then they come along like Santa Claus. Government mismanagement created this mess in the first place putting thousands of farmers in real jeopardy. They won’t admit their mistakes and they won’t help farm families in crisis." Jake Hoeppner put the crisis in perspective for reporters, "I started farming in 1957. In 1971, it took 10,000 bushels of wheat to buy my first combine. In 1991, it cost 40,000 bushels to buy a combine."
For the last two months, Reformers have been pressing the government hard to even admit that there is a farm income crisis. "Reform forced the Liberals to debate the farm income crisis in the House of Commons. Since October 8th we have been pressing the Liberals to hold Committee hearings on the farm income crisis. First, the Liberal dominated Committee stalled and then gave in to Reform’s demands for public hearings. We’re going to stick to the government like manure to a cowboy boot until they admit there’s a crisis and put a plan in place to effectively address it," promised Breitkreuz.
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The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.
Yorkton: (306) 782-3309
Ottawa: (613) 992-4394