PolitiKit

Bill S-238: An Act to enact the Climate-Aligned Finance Act and to make related amendments to other Acts – climate-aligned financial reporting will be a cost burden for agricultural producers, local municipal governments and small businesses in rural Saskatchewan.

Agriculture-advocating on policies with regards to research and technology that drives innovation, maximizing productivity, and/or ensuring the sustainability of food systems.

AgriStability - ensuring that it serves the needs of agricultural producers and offering suggestion for improvements to this program.

Trade Agreements: Canada European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, (CETA) and Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), our request is to better international trade for agriculture producers.

Irrigation infrastructure for agriculture in Saskatchewan. Need a joint infrastructure agreement with Saskatchewan.

Pesticide regulations: strongly support maintaining a science based and evidence based approach to pesticide management. The regulation of pesticides needs to consider the importance of food security.

Firearms: Participating in consultations on reducing violent crime; consultations on Canada's gun laws.

Carbon tax; impact of carbon tax on Saskatchewan’s agricultural producers and municipalities.

Transportation policy and regulation with regard to grain, grain products and products for agriculture generally.

Trade Agreements; including Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), our request is to better international trade for agriculture producers.

Carbon Tax/Offset – Requesting Canada follow the EU and remove carbon tax from natural gas bill. Carbon credits would help balance between environmental protection and economic growth. SARM participating in development of provincial offset program that is meaningful for agriculture producers and equivalent to a federal program.

Mental Health – the need for the building of more treatment centers for mental health issues and treatment for addictions. The importance of funding for mental health support for youth and accessibility for help options for youth.

Rural Healthcare & Recruitment - funding for increase recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in remote rural areas of Saskatchewan

Animal Health as it relates to the Bovine TB testing process and compensation to the livestock owner. Enhancements in the process are needed especially around communication and transparency to all stakeholders.

Control of Richardson Ground Squirrels with regard to research and control methods, including the use of Strychnine

Food Security – the importance of enhancing agricultural infrastructure, mitigating food inflation and rising fuel costs, ensuring fertilizer availability and recognition for sustainable farming practices.

Federal fertilizer emission reduction targets: SARM is concerned with the impact this will have on the agricultural sector.

Pesticide regulations: strongly support maintaining a science based and evidence based approach to pesticide management. The regulation of pesticides needs to consider the importance of food security.

Fertilizer reduction – focus on an absolute emissions reduction, rather than an intensity-based target, is misplaced and will likely cause severe economic harm & more emissions can be reduced through increased uptake of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program while improving the competitiveness and profit of farmers

Infrastructure funding; ensuring eligibility requirements and thresholds allow rural municipalities to access infrastructure funding.

Control of Richardson Ground Squirrels with regard to research and control methods, including the use of Strychnine

The Rural Municipal (RM) Tax Loss Compensation Trust Fund tied to Treaty Land Entitlement agreements continues to decrease and appears to be unsustainable without municipalities absorbing significant reduction in monies from the fund. The agreements need to be updated.

Bill C-293: An Act respecting pandemic prevention and preparedness – ensure this Bill addresses undermining of the agricultural sector’s viability and supply chain disruptions.

Economic Development - SARM seeks to find ways to expand the rural workforce, explore ideas that foster innovation, be a catalyst for economic investments and provide rural municipalities with the much-needed tools to ensure that Saskatchewan can continue to support Canada's economic growth and development.

Capital Gains Inclusion Rate - The number of farms could dwindle and plans for succession may be hindered by the introduction of this new tax policy change. Also it could negatively affect the unemployment rates in this country and scare away future investors and entrepreneurs.

Canadian Agriculture Partnership; ensuring that it serves to maintain and increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

Railway/supply chain concerns especially around being able to move the crop from harvest to ports. Declare railways as an essential service.

Animal Health as it relates to the Bovine TB testing process and compensation to the livestock owner. Enhancements in the process are needed especially around communication and transparency to all stakeholders.

Carbon tax; impact of carbon tax on Saskatchewan’s agricultural producers and municipalities.

Railway/supply chain concerns especially around being able to move the crop from harvest to ports. Declare railways as an essential service.

Enhancements to the Criminal Code: review penalties for repeat offenders.

RCMP presence in rural Saskatchewan. Preventing rural crime.

RCMP costs - related costs coupled with rising policing costs overall could result in significant financial burdens for municipalities