Niagara, Ontario MP Calls For Funding Relief For Drought-Stricken Farmers

By Doug Draper

Welland, Ontario Riding MP Malcolm Allen, the federal New Democratic Party’s agriculture  critic, says it is time for Canada’s governing Conservatives to do something to address what is turning into a crisis for farmers in the Niagara region.

Many of these corn stocks in a parched field in Thorold, Ontario are barely a foot high, and it is late July! Photo by Doug Draper

The federal government should be prepared to provide economic assistance to due to this summer’s unusually dry conditions, not cut funds, Allen said.

In a July 24 media release, the federal representative noted that “in Ontario alone, the warm and dry weather has caused one of the worst droughts in history. In parts of Niagara,” Allen added, “there has only been 40 to 60 per cent of normal rainfall since April 1, and despite some rain last week, many crops are already irreparably damaged.” 

“This is going to have far reaching consequences – and so far the Conservatives have been completely silent” charged Allen Allen. “Farmers in Niagara are worried about the potential consequences this drought will have on everything from produce to livestock feed. Instead of the government offering support, farmers are hearing rumors of more cuts to the emergency programs they rely on in difficult times like these.”

Recent reports suggest that up to $1.2 billion in federal funding for programs such as Agri-Stability are slated to be cut. Many agriculture groups across Ontario are concerned about the impact of these cuts, especially in the wake of this drought.

“The longer the drought continues, the worse the effect will be on farming regions,” said Allen “This drought will have serious consequences and (federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz) must act now to develop a plan to help mitigate the impact on farmers. People are looking for help and leadership, but unfortunately the minister is simply nowhere to be found.”

According a Canadian Press story this July 24, a spokesman for Ritz’s office said the federal government has several programs in place to help farmers deal with the impact of weather-related events such as drought.

“Unpredictable weather like we are seeing in Ontario only further highlights the importance for farmers to have and utilize crop insurance, “added spokesman Jeff English said in an email.

“While it is too early to tell to what degree producers will be affected by the dry growing conditions, our government has asked Agriculture Canada officials to monitor the situation and work with farmers to support them through this difficult period.”

English said it’s up to the provinces to ask Ottawa for help through a federal-provincial financial assistance program but so far, none of the provinces have made such a request. 

This Niagara At Large rider took a drive down some of Niagara’s rural roads this July 24, passing cornfields where many of the stalks are barely more than a foot high when they should be at least four feet tall at this point. One farm assistant said the soil is so parched in a friend’s soybean field, “you could lose your keys in the cracks in the ground.”

There are already reports across North America that the cost of what corn is soaring and that prices of many foods will continue to rise significantly if there isn’t relief from the dry conditions soon.

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