The prime minister’s mandate letters to ministers show government intentions for this Parliament.
The letter to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau indicates significant benefits may be developed for farmers.
A first priority for the minister will be a review of risk management programs, in particular AgriStability.
Benefits from the program used to kick in when the farm’s gross margin fell below 80 per cent of revenues.
The Harper Conservative government reduced benefits by cutting the gross margin eligibility to 70 per cent
Many farm lobby groups, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan included, have lobbied to restore that margin to 80 per cent.
The minister is to work on tax measures “to facilitate the intergenerational transfer of farms.”
One priority will seek a new entity called Farm and Food Development of Canada to be a one-stop service for farmers with added capacity to lend farmers money.
Responses to export challenges such as with canola, beef and pork will require “faster short-term support for the industry when required.”
A new fund will help producers and processors close the technology and infrastructure gap to develop markets.
And the minister will support the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in making science-based decisions on safe and sustainable crop protection products.
One of the mandate letter priorities for Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan involves “working to construct and complete the twinning of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. This work is anchored in a commitment to protect and create jobs, create economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and use revenues to finance Canada’s clean energy transition.”
The minister will also work on “a plan to help Canadians make their homes more energy efficient and climate resilient. This will include providing free energy audits to homeowners and landlords, up to $40,000 in interest-free lending for retrofits that will save Canadians money on their energy use, a cash incentive for borrowers to maximize their energy savings, and creating a net zero homes grant of up to $5,000 for newly built homes that are certified net zero-emissions.”
Seniors Minister Filomena Tassi is expected to develop a plan for a 10 per cent increase in Old Age Security for seniors over age 75 with indexing as well.
And the seniors’ minister will work on increasing Canada Pension Plan survivor benefits by 25 per cent as well as affordable housing, programs combating elder abuse, wellness programs and pharmacare.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
