Conservatives urge Liberals to expedite relief for canola farmers

OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives said Thursday they’re hearing from frustrated canola producers who are still waiting for financial relief recently promised by the Liberal government.

Canola producers are expressing concern about funding promised three weeks ago that can’t be accessed, Tory shadow minister for agriculture Luc Berthold said in a letter to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

“My colleagues and I have heard from a number of canola producers who have been told by the Canadian Canola Growers Association that the enhancements promised by you three weeks ago are not yet available,” he wrote.

The time period is “like an eternity” for canola producers under the current circumstances, Berthold added, suggesting the government needs to fix the situation immediately.

“Minister, it is irresponsible for you to make an announcement and not be able to follow through in a timely manner,” Berthold wrote.

“It is unacceptable that the only concrete measure that your government has taken to help canola producers is stalled.”

Bibeau’s office has yet to respond to the letter.

Earlier this month, the federal Liberals promised financial aid to canola farmers to lessen the impact of China’s decision to ban their products as an apparent part of a trade dispute.

The announcement changed a program that advances farmers money against the expected value of their crops, raising loan limits to $1 million from $400,000.