Canadian Farmers Upset Over Bail-Out

OTTAWA - Mar 1/01 - STAT -- Canada's federal government will spend another half billion dollars will be spent bailing out that country's farmers, but it was rejected as too little by farmers who were looking for the federal government to provide at least CDN $900 million in direct aid.

Under the scheme, the country's provincial governments will kick in another CDN $350 million for an $850 million package. The money will be divided among farmers using existing aid programs, with the result few will see a significant infusion of cash.

One farmer attending the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting where the announcement was made told a CBC reporter, "The next time when you see the tractors on the roads it ain't going to be pretty. We've got nothing to lose."

The money adds to $1.8 billion already pledged for farm aid this year.

The fact the money is linked to provincial participation drew a terse response from Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

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