While he wasn't commenting directly to the media, Canada's Prime Minister says he's very aware of the flood damage in the Yorkton area and he assures the government will be doing what it can to help out.
On Thursday, Stephen Harper made a Yorkon stop, enroute to the Calgary Stampede. While in the city he took a little time to fly over the area and to stop at a local farm, accompanied by Federal Ag. Minister Gerry Ritz, Saskatchewan's Premier Brad Wall, Provincial Ag. Minister Bob Bjornerud, Yorkton MP Garry Breitkreuz, and Yorkon MLA Greg Ottenbreit.
Making no public comment, Harper said in an issued release, "Today I saw first hand the devastation caused by recent flooding on the prairies. Western farmers can be rest assured that our government is standing by them and their families during this difficult time.
"Our farmers work hard through all conditions and circumstances to provide food for people across this county and around the world. Our government will help them recover from exceptional circumstances caused by rains and flooding."
During the morning, prior to Harper's arrival, the federal government announced what it says is its largest and fastest AgriRecovery relief package to date. The government's of Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba are making $450 million available for farmers to take immediate steps to protect and restore damaged cropland.
Through this action farmers will receive $30 per acre for affected cropland. A cap up through crop insurance will bring that number to $80 per acre. While it may not cover all the costs farmers are out, it will help through difficult times according to area farmer Ron Blommaert who was the only resident to recieve a personal visit from the Prime Minister.
Farming in the Yorkton area for the past 35 years, Blommaert says this is the worst conditions he has ever seen.
"I've never not been able to seed an entire crop. It's been wet before but not as bad as this," he says. "The impact isn't that great right now, but in the end it's going to be huge. When we don't have anything to sell, we have no income so farther down the road it's going to be bad news for a lot of us.
"Any type of aid is going to be welcome... this year is over with but the big thing is survival for next year... there's a lot of us who are feeling down, but we're survivors. We're going to get through this and I have confidence in our government that they're going to step in and help us out. We're definitely going to find out about our aid packages and how well they work."
With seven quarters (1,100 acres) to seed each year, Blommaert says this year was by far his most challenging, getting in only about 70 per cent of his crop.
His hope is that the viewing the situation first hand, Prime Minister Harper will be touched by the plight of local farmers and follow through on assistance.
"It brings up everybody's spirits. He has stopped here, he must care otherwise he wouldn't have..."
Also visiting Yorkton was Premier Brad Wall, who took some extra time to survey the extensive flood damage within the city limits. In particular, he visited the hard hit local Dairy Queen which will most likely be torn down and rebuilt in the months to come.
"It's a scene that's becoming all too familiar in the province but people in the province are dealing with it in typical Saskatchewan style, they're helping each other out... it's quite an amazing thing to see," Wall observes
Wall says he's confident the federal government will join the province and step up to the plate when it comes to helping people through the devastation.
"Thankfully we're only talking about property so far. There's been a lot of mental anguish and maybe a few nicks here and there but everyone is safe..." The rest, money can fix he says.
"We're probably at about $283 million so far... I think that number will grow. There's municpaldamage, there's private property damage, highway damage... there's a significant amount of stress on the highways... but you know, we have a rainy day fund in Saskatchewan.
"We have almost a million dollars in the rainy day fund because of the strength of our economy and thank goodness because it's been raining for far too long."
Wall commended Yorkton Mayor James Wilson and council for the work they have done thus far in the midst of disaster.
"We'll continue to work with them and we'll continue to work with the federal government until their help kicks in (in the form of federal disaster programs)... there will be some federal help triggered... we also know the provincial government has a role to play... we're going to get the money out as quickly as possible..."
Breitkreuz statement
Accompanying the Prime Minister on his Yorkton tour, Yorkton/- Melville MP Garry?Breitkreuz issued the following statement upon Harper's departure.
For weeks, agriculture producers across the constituency of Yorkton-Melville have relayed to Member of Parliament Garry Breitkreuz their frustration and concern over the horrendous amount of rainfall received throughout the area in May and June.
On Thursday, July 8, Breitkreuz welcomed Prime Minister Stephen Harper who saw first hand the devastation our farmers face everyday.
"Through constant contact with producers and R.M. councils in my riding, I have been able to convey to Prime Minister Harper the terrible conditions our farmers have experienced this spring," said Breitkreuz, "and I invited him to see the devastation for himself. Yesterday, he accepted my invitation, and I was able to show our Prime Minister the impact that this year's flooding has had on our area."
Breitkreuz met with Mr. Harper, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Federal Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz, and Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture Bob Bjornerud on a farm north of Yorkton following an aerial tour of the area.
"Prime Minister Harper, Premier Wall and our Agriculture Ministers certainly understand the magnitude that the floods have and will have on our entire agriculture community, and both levels of government have pledged their support for our farmers."
Earlier on Thursday, Minister Ritz and Minister Bjornerud announced the roll-out of a $30 per acre direct payment to Saskatchewan farmers. The $30 per acre is for both Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) participants and non-participants, and is in addition to the $50 per acre that SCIC participants can apply for, for unseeded acres due to flooding. The $30 per acre falls under the AgriRecovery Program and is in addition to existing federal-provincial Business Risk Management programs, such as AgriInsurance (crop insurance), AgriStability and AgriInvest, which as the first lines of defence to address income shortfalls, will all significantly help farmers manage the impact of this natural disaster. Producers across Saskatchewan can contact their Crop Insurance office for more details and either Crop Insurance or their Rural Municipality office for the AgriRecovery application forms.
"Thursday was a very encouraging day for producers in Yorkton-Melville. Not only is our Prime Minister even more appreciative of the financial and emotional stress that everyone in our area is facing, our Agriculture Ministers re-confirmed their commitment to the agriculture community with the announcement of financial aid," said Breitkreuz.
"Nothing can replace this year's crop, but this money will go a long way to adopt measures to protect, rehabilitate and manage affected cropland."
