goodale

Regina-Wascana Liberal MP Ralph Goodale

More than 5500 federal service employees were notified yesterday that their jobs could be affected as a result of cuts announced in last month’s federal budget.

The details are still filtering out, but the ag sector is among the hardest hit, with Saskatchewan's only Liberal Member of Parliament saying the cuts to the PFRA are one of the biggest hits for the province and producers.

Regina-Wascana MP Ralph Goodale says the tree nursery at Indian Head will be gone within a couple of years and the PFRA’s pasture program will be gone in four to five years.

"PFRA, which has always been for some reason on this government's hit list, is going to be now totally destroyed," Goodale added. "Since 1935, it's been the most effective and well-liked federal government agency in Western Canada, dealing with soil, water, community development and pastures in a very hands-on, credible way, where they actually had a tangible impact on improving farmers' livelihoods."

Goodale is also concerned about the loss of  the Community Access Program  which helped bring internet services to remote locations and low income users who would not otherwise have access.

Glenda Lee Allan talked with Ralph Goodale about the cuts to agriculture, airing on today's "On the Farm" on Country Music Radio: