Bowled over in Feedlot Alley

Seeing a perfect opportunity to trot out his Alberta all-stars, Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin chose a feedlot in the vicinity of Picture Butte, Alberta — The Livestock Feeding Capital of Canada– to announce a $995 million dollar aid package for the ag industry.

Platitudes were as free flowing as the manure piled amongst the pens of Feedlot Alley. As Ken Nicol, Ted Haney and Senator Joyce Fairbairn gawked on, PM Paul Martin and Anne McLellan used this opportunity to extoll the virtues of the Liberal government, and the team they have assembled to hoist the Liberal banner in the next federal election.

While Martin assured those in attendence that the announcement “has absolutely nothing to do with an election”, I suspect very few in the heart of cattle country are buying it.

Martin announces $1-billion mad cow bailout

Prime Minister Paul Martin confirmed Monday a bailout package worth close to $1-billion for cattle producers suffering from the effects of the mad-cow crisis.

Most of the details of the package, however, had been leaked to the media last week.

Mr. Martin said that of the $995-million made available, $680-million will go to cattle producers and producers of other ruminants. The money is also available to producers of sheep, goats, bison, elk and deer.

A second component is a $250-million “bridge to help Canadian producers from today into the fall,??? the Prime Minister said. Lastly, $65-million will be available right away as direct cash into farmers’ pockets.

“We have to recognize the urgency of the situation,??? Mr. Martin told reporters and ranchers in Picture Butte, Alta., where he made the announcement with Agriculture Minister Bob Speller and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, an Edmonton MP.

The assembled group of high-profile MPs in Alberta led reporters to question whether the announcement was of a pre-election nature. Both Mr. Speller and Mr. Martin denied that the funding was a springboard for a federal election campaign.

“This announcement has absolutely nothing to do with an election. This announcement has to do with the state of Canadian agriculture and the state of Canadian beef producers,??? Mr. Martin said.

“This decision and this great commitment by the government of Canada is one of a commitment, as I said, to farmers and farm families,??? Mr. Speller added. “It’s not one based on politics. It’s one based on need.???

…