The President of Keystone Ag Producers has invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to tour farms in Manitoba after producers endured one of the province's most challenging years.
Manitoba saw both ends of the weather spectrum in 2019. The growing season started with a drought and ended with flooding due to torrential downpours and an early snowstorm.
In a letter sent to Trudeau, KAP President Bill Campbell says that these weather extremes mixed with international trade disputes have threatened producers' bottom lines.
Through sending the invitation, Campbell hopes to show Trudeau and Federal Ag Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau what is happening in rural areas of Canada.
“I thought it was important to offer an invitation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture to come to western Manitoba, to walk with Canadians, as he has mentioned in his post-election comments,” said Campbell. “I’m hoping he can see some of the significance of his actions with regards to trade policies, and economic growth policies, and how it has impacted rural Manitoba and the small communities that we live in.”
Campbell’s letter goes on to mention the disappointment that western Canada has in the Liberal government. This was shown in the federal election results that saw no Liberal seats in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and rural Manitoba.
Campbell also weighs in on the growing popularity of a western separatism movement.
“These discussions do not serve the best interest of our country and are not discussions Manitobans support,” said Campbell. “We do, however, have the need to hear from our federal government on the issues that we encounter every day.”
The KAP president is hopeful that not only the Prime Minister accepts his invitation, but that other federal party leaders take the time to see what is impacting producers the most.
