Strahl Talks with Senate Committee on Agriculture

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Chuck Strahl made a presentation to the standing Senate Committee on Agriculture this week.

He highlighted what the Conservatives had accomplished during their first 100 days in office.

"How we are trying to get over a billion dollars out to farmers and the way we are doing that, so I had some details on some of the retroactive changes to the case program and the agricultural marketing legislation and our disaster relief for cover crop program which we announced on the prairies, so we went into details on all that."

Strahl and the countries agriculture ministers will meet in Newfoundland later this month.

Strahl indicated if a consensus was reached at the meeting, major changes to the safety net could be implemented immediately.

"I think it is safe to say that almost all agriculture ministers are concerned the flagship income stabilization plan that we have had is not doing the job. My hope is that we will be able to come to a consensus that if we can address all these thing and crank out a separate disaster relief and separate income programs, if we cant announce the details, at least we could announce our attention."