Liberal MP Jim Carr Says 'Everything Is On The Table' To Help Farmers

Mar 27, 2020

Liberal MP Jim Carr says this week's announcement by the prime minister will help farmers with immediate cash flow.

He notes the $5 billion added to the credit capacity of Farm Credit Canada (FCC) will amount to deferrals on loans, and provide interest rate relief over a 12-month period.

"This is all new [money]. It had nothing to do with campaign announcements or promises. This is in reaction to COVID and is particular to this set of circumstances and in addition to all programs that have already been announced."

Carr adds they are doing what they can to help relieve the anxiety being felt across all sectors of the economy.

"Everything is on the table. The minister is in daily consultation with producer groups and industry representatives and we will look at all ways possible to relieve the burden that all of us are now feeling."

The government also announced that all eligible farmers who have an outstanding Advance Payments Program loan due on or before April 30 will receive a Stay of Default, allowing them an additional six months to repay the loan.

Carr is the MP for Winnipeg South and also serves as the Prime Minister's Special Representative to the Prairies.

Click here to see more...

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.