The editor:
Once again we have propaganda about how the federal Tories help western Canada. Let the record show just how helpful they are to agriculture. First of all, the Tories are for big business 鈥� people who thrive on tax concessions but do not pay taxes. They live off the system and at the same time believe in the free enterprise system where it鈥檚 every person for him or herself.
The Tories destroyed the PFRA system. They completely closed all the offices in the west which were bene铿乧ial to Canadian farmers. They closed the tree nursery at Indian Head. Today the tree farm is invaded with one-metre high weeds. Yet every prairie farmyard has trees grown from seedlings purchased from the tree nursery. So much for the Tories鈥� help in western Canada.
The PFRA community pastures were developed after the dry years the 1930s on land that was marginal with rocks and sloughs. They helped farmers pasture their cattle so farmers had more cash for their operation. Today the federal Tories have closed all the pastures. So much for help from the federal Tories.
The Canadian Wheat Board was destroyed by the Tories. Who do you think benefitted by destroying the CWB? The grain companies. In 2012, I sold wheat through the CWB. I received $8.50 bushel. Today, three years later, the same wheat will bring $4.72 a bushel. At the West coast at an export position, wheat is selling at $7.72 a bushel. Under the CWB I would have been getting an additional $3 a bushel in 2015. To sell grain on the open market 鈥� it鈥檚 freedom to go broke! So much for the Tories鈥� help.
The Canadian Grain Commission is being destroyed. It鈥檚 the only organization to protect the farmers from the grain companies and keep the grain companies honest. So much for help from the federal Tories.
Oh yes, what about producer cars under federal legislation? The producer cars help the farmer bypass the grain companies to achieve better prices for their grain. Well the Tories destroyed this program too. The Tory government has turned back the clock 115 years. Our forefathers have fought for programs that benefitted the farmers, and the Tories destroyed them all.
Edward Sagan
Melville
A concerned farmer
