Provincial election issues ranging from infrastructure to healthcare were top of the agenda for the Keystone Agricultural Producers during the organization’s summer advisory council meeting in July.
“KAP has been working to identify key priorities for producers,” president Jill Verwey said to open the meeting. “Your vote matters and we will be doing our part to press all of the political parties on their positions when it comes to these priority issues.”
The provincial election is scheduled Oct. 3.
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The meeting included an election panel to discuss topics important to Manitoba farmers. It included Rosenort-area egg farmer Harley Siemens, Lac du Bonnet-area grain farmer Janice Johansson and Neepawa-area cattle farmer Matthew Atkinson.
Discussion revolved around five topics: healthcare and rural crime; education and property taxes; labour shortages; infrastructure spending; and right-to-repair legislation.
Resolutions
Two resolutions were introduced, both concerning drainage and wetland habitats.
The first resolved that KAP lobby the province to lower the minimum distance for drainage tile to the edge of a wetland. The argument is that nine metres would allow for reclamation of saline areas without disturbing the wetland.
The second resolution recommended that KAP lobby the province to change drainage regulations to “allow farmers to mitigate the drainage of class 1, 2, 3 and 4 wetlands by digging reservoirs in convenient locations with equivalent volumes to establish an enhanced wetland that would maintain water for all aquatic species.”
The resolution is intended to increase water retention and maintain wetland habits in years of drought, said proponents.
Both resolutions passed.
Next week’s Co-operator will have deeper coverage of KAP’s summer advisory council meeting.
