PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
we’ve had with CN officials. They developed
a grain plan for both fall and winter.
This includes cars placed at strategic
places to be accessed when something
goes wrong, more personnel, and
the first new locomotives coming on
line. However, we must continue to be
diligent in our transportation efforts,
and we will continue to press CP.
Another issue I will address is the
creation of regulations for the new water
legislation that has been passed. KAP
has been on the stakeholder consultation
group that is providing recommendations.
We will continue to press for
removal of licensing for smaller drainage
projects, re-organizing conservation
districts according to watersheds
– and not according to RM boundaries
– and developing a well-funded ecological
goods and services program.
Taxation on farmland has been an
ongoing fight and KAP will continue
it this year. We have been pushing
the province for a change in the portion
of the assessment used to calculate
taxes on farmland, which would
reduce farmland taxes. And we will
continue with this approach.
KAP has long lobbied for a new
way to calculate education taxes, and
last year the province announced an
education review will take place this
year, and it will include funding. We
anticipate submitting a lengthy recommendation
document during the
consultation process, and we urge all
farmers to attend the town hall meetings
that will be held.
Climate change, the federal carbon
tax that doesn’t exempt farm heating
and drying fuels, repercussions
of trade agreements that affect the
supply-managed sectors, and engaging
young farmers are also on my radar
for 2019.
Another important initiative for
KAP will be to talk to the candidates
ahead of the federal election this year.
We want to stress that agriculture not
only produces the food we eat, but also
contributes billions to our economy.
In the longer term, I am committed
to looking down the road five to 10
years to see where agriculture fits in
the Canadian economy. This is a huge
undertaking, but we must do it.
In closing, I wish you a successful
coming year and look forward to working
for you. FV
I’m committed to
agriculture, and that’s why
I’m involved with KAP.
2019 KAP
ANNUAL
GENERAL
MEETING
February 5 & 6
Delta Winnipeg Hotel
350 St. Mary Avenue
Delegates, Young Farmers,
Observers Welcome
Get more info: kap.ca
10 § Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Winter 2019
/kap.ca
/kap.ca
