Farm Ranch Water Infrastructure Program
Res #: 20-09A
Number: 20
Year: 2009
Midterm: No
Expired: Yes
Responses Received: No
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
WHEREAS ground and surface water are an important water source for a majority of rural and urban Municipalities in Saskatchewan; and
WHEREAS drought situations directly affect all Saskatchewan residents; and
WHERAS drought does not follow municipal borders so many producers outside the designated areas of the Farm Ranch Water Infrastructure Program were faced with covering the entire costs of water infrastructure; and
WHEREAS the current funding for the Farm Ranch Water Infrastructure Program is 65%, but only for those within the designated boundaries; and
WHEREAS drought could affect any part of the province at any given time;
BE IT RESOLVED that Federal and/or Provincial Governments put in place a Farm Ranch Water Infrastructure Program that will include the entire Province of Saskatchewan on an annual basis, with year round applications and not just when drought situations occur; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Provincial and Federal Governments team with Saskatchewan producers to equally cost share a Farm Ranch Water Infrastructure Program which includes well, dugouts and pipeline development on a yearly ongoing basis; in the attempt to lessen the effects of drought as it occurs.
Response from Honourable Bob Bjornerud, Minister of Agriculture:
Last year, FRWIP was targeted to an area in Southwest Saskatchewan that had experienced several years of drought and was in desperate need of secure water sources. We concur with SARM that access to water is critical for agricultural producers.
On April 6, 2009, we announced a province-wide water infrastructure program under Growing Forward, with both the provincial and federal governments contributing funding to the program. This program will provide $52.8 million over four years to support the development of secure water sources in Saskatchewan to expand the livestock industry, encourage rural economic activity and mitigate the effects of future drought.
Farmers, ranchers, RMs and Indian Bands across Saskatchewan are eligible for funding of projects involving community wells, large and small diameter wells, shallow or deep-buried pipelines and dugouts.
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