Today, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association released the results of their survey on public policy, grain farming, and the agriculture sector, as submitted to each of the Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidates in March.
“We sent a survey to each leadership candidate, asking them six important questions to grain farmers in western Canada,” said Levi Wood, President of the Wheat Growers and grain farmer at Pense, Saskatchewan. “These are significant issues for all growers and their pocketbooks here on the farm, and the larger agriculture sector as well.”
The six questions submitted by the Wheat Growers to each leadership candidate were:
- What is your position on open markets in the grain sector, where many players compete vigorously for farmers’ business, including in farm inputs and farm products?
- What is your position on free and competitive markets in international trade, including the elimination of export subsidies, reduction of trade-distorting domestic support, and reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers that inhibit market access?
- What is your position on a commercial and efficient grain transportation system, recognizing the need for government regulation to foster greater service, competition, and accountability in the rail sector?
- What is your position on the development of agricultural innovations that make farmers more profitable and sustainable, with a science-based regulatory approval process for the introduction of new
technologies, including the adoption of genetically modified crops?
- What is your position on a carbon pricing system, including on a credit and debit system that acknowledges the significant carbon reductions being achieved by prairie grain growers?
- As Prime Minister, what would your top five priorities be for farmers and the agriculture industry in Canada?
Source : Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association