Prime Minister Stephen Harper tours Saskatchewan crop Land affected by recent Flooding

July 08, 2010

Federal and provincial governments to provide assistance to farmers

YORKTON, SASKATCHEWAN – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan, today toured areas of Saskatchewan to view damage caused by recent heavy rainfalls and flooding.  They were joined by Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.
 
“Today I saw first hand the devastation caused by recent flooding on the prairies,” said the Prime Minister.  “Western farmers can rest assured that our Government is standing by them and their families during this difficult time.”
 
The Government and the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba today announced substantial relief for farmers dealing with income and production losses.
 
The joint AgriRecovery response — the largest and fastest relief package of its kind to date — will allow the federal and provincial governments to provide quick, targeted assistance to help farmers protect and restore damaged crop land and resume business operations.  This funding builds on existing support available through Business Risk Management programs for farmers.
 
“Our farmers work hard through all conditions and circumstances to provide food for people across this country and around the world,” added the Prime Minister.  “Our Government will help them recover from the exceptional circumstances caused by the rains and flooding.”
 
Farmers across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are facing extreme conditions as the result of torrential rains that fell the last week of May and beginning of June.  The heavy rainfall has saturated fields, leaving countless producers dealing with flooded cropland or unable to seed their crops.
 
More information will be made available to affected farmers in the provinces as program details are confirmed.