With the call of the provincial election in Manitoba, the Wheat Growers Association asked each of the registered parties seven questions we thought would be of interest to our members.
On September 11, 2023 the following questions were sent to each party. Responses will be posted here as they’re provided by the parties.
1. What is your party’s 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?
2. What is your party’s position on the grain transportation system and the ability to move grain to export market in an accountable and efficient manner, considering possible future overcrowding on the rail system?
We will also eliminate the provincial gas tax while inflation remains high, which will means savings of 14c per litre every time families and businesses fill up, as well as the tax on marked fuels.
3. What is your party’s 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?
4. What is your party’s 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 through farming techniques and sequestering?
5. As the next provincial government, what would your top priorities be for farmers and the agriculture industry in Manitoba?
Greens want to work towards a food system that puts farmers’ well-being first, while providing good jobs and improving the air, water, and soil for future generations. Greens do not believe that Manitobans must choose between protecting the environment or protecting industry. With the use of sustainable and regenerative practices, we can build strong and vibrant farming communities that work together to improve our environment and create resilient, local food systems.
To ensure that our farmers and our agriculture sector have a bright future, the Green Party of Manitoba will:
Provide support to new farmers
- Direct government assistance toward new, smaller farms, retooling the practice of giving big grants to already established profitable farms to address weather emergencies;
- Create a land bank to provide retiring farmers with new succession opportunities, and help make land available and affordable to new farmers
Reduce the financial burden of all farmers
- Review Manitoba’s farm land ownership laws to discourage land price speculation by non-farming shareholders, pension plans and foreign corporations
- End farmland school taxation
- Support the rights of farmers to save their own seeds
Increase financial opportunities for farmers
- Diversify market opportunities to help stabilize and balance agricultural commodity markets, reducing Manitoba’s dependence on exports to the US and China
- Work to open new provincial, regional and local market opportunities and new international markets which appreciate Manitoba quality
- Direct government procurement toward ‘Buy Manitoba’
Work with farmers to move away from greenhouse gas intensive agricultural practices
- Encourage the use of regenerative farming practices to reduce greenhouse gases, increase plant growth, and increase species diversity on pastures
- Provide transition programs to support farmers who wish to transition to organic and/or regenerative food production
- Encourage and support the transition to energy independence on farms
- Encourage clean energy production on farms, such as solar, wind, geothermal, small scale hydro energy, and energy storage capacity installations
To chart a path forward, we will create a Premier’s Business and Jobs Council to bring together leaders from business, skilled trades, agriculture, Indigenous communities and labour.
We will increase our export sales for agriculture and manufacturing industries, and compete in the American market by appointing Gary Doer as advisor on U.S. Trade.
We will ensure that our agriculture and value-added manufacturers stay strong with a competitive economic environment. We will also work with the federal government to improve AgriStability to protect producers.
We will give the next generation of producers a fighting chance and help them care for the environment by reversing the PCs’ changes to crown land leases, reinstating unit transfers, and investing in regenerative agriculture. And we’ll make sure any changes to Crown Lands are driven by the producers.