MLA Wishart calls on the feds to abandon the fertilizer reduction plan

Portage la Prairies MLA, Ian Wishart, brought forward a private member's resolution Tuesday in the Manitoba Legislature, calling on the NDP-Liberal coalition in Ottawa to abandon their plan to create fertilizer reduction targets.

"They've come out with a target that is pretty unrealistic according to most of the players in the industry, asking for 30 per cent emissions reduction in fertilizer usage. We're asking them to rethink that to work with the industry and find realistic goals," says Wishart. "We know that there are some possible reductions, but all the industry players indicate that 30 per cent is not a realistic number."

Wishart explains that the federal government must know that producers across Canada don't believe they have the right to do this.

"They need to go back and consult more broadly and bring it forward. I think it's important that farmers know that we're speaking up on their behalf. I hear from farmers all the time that they just can't imagine how this is going to be workable for them, given the desire, of course, to get the best yields possible."

The Portage MLA says that the PCs want farmers to know that they are looking out for them.

"Farmers are very careful with fertilizer usage anyway. It's a very expensive input these days. So, they've been adopting new technology and moving forward and being more efficient with it. I think frankly that the federal government is about two steps behind the industry on this one. They need to look at what current practices are out there and make sure that they're in step with what the real goals can be."

Wishart adds that he understands the federal government wants to reduce fertilizer usage because nitrous oxide emissions are considered greenhouse gases.

"So, it's part of their overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gases as a country, and we certainly support the need to do that, but we don't believe this is one of the more effective ways to do it. And frankly, the other side of the equation is when producers produce more, we take more carbon out of the atmosphere to do that."

The PCs note that as the resolution passed, it became the Manitoba Legislature's official position.