Strathroy - Lambton-Kent-Middlesex M.P Bev Shipley was encouraged by comments from Federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl at meeting Wednesday with the leaders of more than 30 farm organizations at Ridgetown College.

The meeting was organized by Shipley and Chatham-Kent-Essex M.P. Dave Van Kesteren and fellow M.P.'s from across southwestern Ontario. Shipley characterized the meeting as "positive and informative."

"Our support for the $500 million we committed to during the election campaign is expected in the upcoming budget and will help to provide much-needed short term relief to cash strapped farmers, particularly in the grain and oil seeds sector," said Shipley. "Our $500 million commitment is on top of the $755 million we delivered on from the previous session of Parliament."

Shipley said he was also pleased the Minister got to hear first-hand from farmers about the issues they are confronting as they prepare for the spring planting season. "I know the Minister is hearing from producers, farm groups and agri-businesses right across the country and I am grateful he accepted our invitation to come to southwestern Ontario to hear our specific concerns."

In a meeting held prior, with area M.P.'s, Shipley indicated he and his colleagues were unanimous in their position to the Minister about the need for immediate and long-term support. However Shipley noted that one area of concern is the unified support of the provinces for the Canadian Agricultural Income Support, (CAIS) Program, something the Conservative Party vowed to scrap during the election campaign. Strahl told the M.P.'s he was surprised by the provincial support for CAIS, in a meeting with provincial agriculture ministers earlier this week.

Shipley said the Agriculture Minister has asked his provincial counterparts to review the program and make recommendations to fix its shortcomings by June. "There are issues with how payments are calculated and who qualifies. This has meant some producers, particularly grain-fed livestock producers have been completely shut out from receiving payments. In my view, that has to change."

Shipley acknowledged his government has a "firm grasp" on the farming crisis in Canada but solutions are complicated by the complexities of delivering a national program in the context of a global marketplace. "There are issues before the World Trade Organization dealing with supply management, market access and the environment which means that not all things are within our immediate control. However, the Minister has also indicated a willingness to work with farmers by possibly eliminating CAIS fees and doubling the number of interest-free loans."

The bottom line according to Shipley is that the Conservative Government recognizes the importance of agriculture to Canada and the need for support in both the short and long term. "We are committed to providing short term relief while we work on a long term program for both risk management and disaster relief."

For more information please contact Bev Shipley - 1-519-245-6561