The Government of Canada and the Provinces of
Saskatchewan and Manitoba Reach an Agreement to February 24, 2000 This additional assistance ($240 million federal, $160 million provincial) is designed to help these farmers adjust to higher transportation costs as they face continuing low farm incomes. Saskatchewan and Manitoba farmers were the most affected by the transportation policy changes in the 1990s. "While they have made enormous progress in adjusting to changing markets and global competition, farmers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba clearly need help to cope with especially difficult challenges of low incomes and the transportation policy changes of the 1990's," said the Prime Minister. "This additional $240 million of federal assistance brings to $2.31 billion the total amount of farm assistance announced by the federal government since December 1998. Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief has worked tirelessly with farmers and provinces to put these resources in place." "The assistance announced today, along with funds from other federal-provincial safety nets, will provide substantial help to Saskatchewan farmers in producing the 2000 crop," said Premier Romanow. Premier Doer said it was heartening that the federal government has acknowledged in this concrete way the severity of the farm income crisis. "It's a good day for the family farm." The Prime Minister and the Premiers also agreed on:
"Farmers expect their governments to work together to find solutions. The kind of federal-provincial co-operation embodied in this announcement is what our shared approach to agriculture is all about," said the Prime Minister. - 30 -
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