Former
prime minister Stephen Harper offered price and profit guarantees
that could have cost billions, but the Liberals now are offeriing
$250 million to dairy farmers and $100 million to cheese makers to
help them cope with increased cheese imports from Europe when the
free trade deal kicks in.
There
was no word about anything for the poultry industry when Agriculture
Minister Lawrence MacAulay made the announcement Thursday.
The
$250-million fund for farmers is spread over five years to help them
upgrade their equipment and increase productivity.
The
$100 million for cheesemakers is to encourage them to modernize
operations and diversify their products.
MacAulay
said the funding would help producers deal with the reality of
increased competition from European cheese-makers once the trade deal
takes effect.
Thank goodness the Liberals scrapped the utterly ridiculous Harper proposals. Who in their right mind guarantees anybody's prices and profits, and especially for a class of coddled millionaires?
