July 9, 2004

Ottawa – Fresh from last week’s election victory, Jay Hill, MP for Prince George–Peace River, returned to Ottawa this week for a meeting with 50 of his Conservative caucus colleagues to discuss the pressing crisis in Canada’s agriculture sector.

This emergency meeting was convened to identify strategies to pressure the Liberals to end their neglect and indifference toward Canadian farm families.

“Immediately following our national caucus meeting with Stephen Harper, those of us disturbed by the ongoing financial duress being experienced by farming constituents in our ridings, sat down to hammer out a plan to light a fire under the Liberal government,” said Hill. “We need to utilize this minority government situation to bring agricultural concerns to the forefront of the agenda in the House of Commons.”

Last February, the Conservative Party proposed a billion dollar aid package that would have greatly helped farmers, while the Liberals stood on the sidelines. Hill stated that it’s unfortunate that Paul Martin continues to seem unwilling to make agriculture a priority. “While he attends private meetings outside of the country, Paul Martin has left Canadian farmers without a Minister of Agriculture at the helm, meaning the government currently has no direction for addressing the crisis in our agricultural sector.”

“The Liberal indifference to drought, the beef crisis, and the avian flu, to name a few recent examples, must end,” demanded Hill. “Conservative MPs resolved this week that when it comes to agriculture, we’re going to turn the tables on this minority Liberal government and force them to follow our lead!”

-30-

For more information, please contact:
Jay Hill, M.P. (613) 947-4524 or (250) 787-119