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Rat Control Program Funding

Res #: 3-19M
Number: 3
Year: 2019
Midterm: Yes
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

WHEREAS rats present an ever-growing danger of affecting the quality and sale of grain and thereby affecting the livelihood of our grain farmers;

WHEREAS the presence of rats can adversely affect the health and well-being of anyone who comes into contact;

WHEREAS the present rat control program has reduced the number of rats dramatically and indicates that the right direction has been taken to eradicate the rat population;

WHEREAS it is a well-known fact that, if left unattended or if efforts are reduced, the rat populations can, and will, in a very short time be back to original numbers;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Agriculture return funding for the Rat Control Program to $1.4 million per year for a period of three years to ensure the program continues to produce positive results.

Responses From: The Ministry of Agriculture

December 11, 2019

Funding for the Rat Control Program has been restored to previous levels for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Our Government is committed to maintaining funding at $1.2 million annually for the duration of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), which is similar to Growing Forward 2 (GF2) payouts. This represents the operational cost (rebates) of the program in previous years. Overall, we believe the program administration costs of $285,000 are adequate to implement the Plant Biosecurity Programming including the Rat Control Program.

David Marit – Minister of Agriculture