Liberals Ignore Farmers, Putting Prairie Farms and Food Security at Risk
Ottawa, ON – John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, issued the following statement in response to the Liberal government’s rejection of strychnine for emergency pest management:
“Conservatives share the deep disappointment of producers and the Alberta and Saskatchewan provincial governments following the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) decision to reject the emergency use registration for two per cent liquid strychnine.
“Producers across the prairies are facing serious and escalating challenges in managing Richardson’s ground squirrels. The removal of this proven and effective control tool is devastating for the agriculture sector and poses a direct threat to farm viability and domestic food production.
“For decades, farmers used strychnine safely and responsibly. Today, the remaining alternatives are labour-intensive, costly, less effective and, in some cases, pose greater risks to producers and livestock. The result has been mounting economic losses, increased injuries to cattle and growing strain on already pressured farm operations.
“The agricultural and economic devastation has already been felt by farmers. In Foothills County alone, an estimated 15,000 acres of farmland were lost this past summer out of approximately 830,000 acres – resulting in roughly $3 million in losses for local producers.
“Once again, the Liberals prove that agriculture is not a priority, telling farmers one thing but doing another. Mark Carney promised he would change the mandate of the PMRA to ensure they ‘consider food security and the cost of food in all their regulatory decisions, without compromising on health and safety.’
“This decision makes it clear that Liberal commitments and promises are meaningless. This is particularly disappointing given that the Liberal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food publicly supported Alberta and Saskatchewan’s emergency request. The Minister repeatedly assured farmers, provincial Agriculture Ministers and the Agriculture Committee that he would support the emergency use application. More Liberal broken promises to farmers and further proof that the Agriculture Minister lacks clout at the Cabinet table.
“PMRA must take the real-world consequences of its decisions seriously and act with urgency to protect Canadian agriculture and food security. At a time when food security and self-reliance matter more than ever, farmers need practical, effective tools to grow the food that feeds Canadians and the world.
“We urge the Liberals to keep their word to prairie farmers and demand PMRA reassess this decision and ensure they make a decision based on up-to-date science, economic impact and cost of food and food security.”