Farm Income Drops, Debt Rises, as Conservatives Fail

Edited by Iain Mackenzie

Hunter River - New data released by Statistics Canada shows the Stephen Harper government's failure to protect farm incomes is driving farmers and their families into debt, Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter says.

"These numbers should be a wake up call for this government and all Canadians," Mr. Easter said. "Farm family income continues to fall while farmer debt is rising. This is the clear result of the contempt this Conservative government has shown for our farmers by failing to deliver on new farm income support programming and funding."

New numbers from Statistics Canada show that overall farm debt increased by $2.3 billion in 2006, a 4.6 per cent increase from the previous year. The same report shows net income for Canadian producers declined in the same period.

"These are not the statistics of a government that is committed to addressing the farm income crisis," said Mr. Easter. "During the last election campaign the Harper Conservatives said they were going to replace the CAIS programming with a system that takes into account the costs of production. The data released yesterday shows clearly the agricultural community needs this commitment kept."

The previous Liberal government recognized the farm income crisis and had produced more than 40 recommendations on how to reverse this situation and ensure that farmers were given greater security in the marketplace.

"This Conservative government has chosen to ignore not only the report but also farmers and farm families," said Mr. Easter. "Our primary producers expect and deserve a government which is prepared to work with them and not against them."

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