Only Three Irrigation Seasons Remaining Still No Response From the Government of Canada

Transcription

1 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 Only Three Irrigation Seasons Remaining Still No Response From the Government of Canada There are only three irrigation seasons remaining 2014, 2015, and 2016 before March 31, 2017 the date that the Government of Canada has indicated they will no longer be involved with the six Irrigation Projects of Southwest Saskatchewan. The Government of Canada has had the Irrigation Groups Proposals for twenty-three months and in that time has been unable to make a decision regarding the divestiture of the Irrigation Projects and provide a response in relation to the proposed divestiture alternatives. The Government of Canada is stretching this out to the point where it is of grave concern that the issues associated with the divestiture of these Irrigation Projects will not be properly dealt with by March What Story Does the Condition of the Southwest Saskatchewan Irrigators Boots Tell? The eyes might be the window to the soul, but shoes are the window to just about everything else. You can tell a lot about a person by what they wear on their feet. The condition of the Southwest Saskatchewan Irrigators boots tell a story about the impact that this divestiture is having on the people. Researchers have found that people could accurately assess another person s age, gender, income as well as various personality traits based upon their choice of shoes. My personal favourite are the people wearing socks with their Birkenstock sandals-you have probably In This Issue Three Irrigation Seasons Remaining What Story Does the Condition of the SW Sask. Irrigators Boots Tell? Advocacy Activity It s Time For You To Take Action The purpose of this Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter is to inform and educate both the irrigators and the various other stakeholders of our concerns and issues as they relate to the divestiture of the Federal Flood Irrigation Projects.

2 Page 2 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 seen the look. Yes, they are probably from the flower child time of the 60 s and 70 s. So what do the state of the boots worn by the irrigators of the Southwest Saskatchewan irrigation groups have to tell us? Below is a picture of a typical ranchers boots worn by irrigators of the Southwest Saskatchewan irrigation groups dated around October 2005 prior to the Government of Canada s announcement that they were divesting the Southwest Saskatchewan irrigation projects. These sturdy working cowboy boots are well-worn from the miles and miles and miles walked up and down fields, in and around corrals, chasing one ornery steer that always gets out back into the pasture, back and forth into town for supplies, to one meeting after another to deal with this divestiture. These are not the fancy boots worn by the weekend rancher or the hobby farmer. October 2005 Before Government of Canada Announcement of the Divestiture Now ranchers do take a source of pride in their boots. What you see is what you get practical, sturdy, weathered, hard-working, no fuss no muss, make a decision and get on with it. In 2010, four years after the Government of Canada announced it was divesting these eighty year old Irrigation Projects, I was introduced to the first of six Southwest Saskatchewan Irrigation Group. I met one individual who was a third generation irrigator whose cowboy boots really told me a story. His cowboy boots were well-worn, scuffed, clean and held together by gray duct tape. Now let s take a look at the Government of Canada s shoes in 2005 and Fashionable, slick, polished, fancy and shiny obviously irrigators boots but didn t. This will give you I knew I should have taken a picture of the fairly new. My guess is that the an idea. Add a few more rounds of duck tape. December 2010 Government of Canada would never wear a pair of shoes held together by duct tape.

3 Page 3 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 I may be wrong but I don t think so, over the course of four years that I traveled to Southwest Saskatchewan and met with these ranchers from Val Marie to Eastend, Consul to Maple Creek and the Rush Lake area, I began to see more cowboy boots being held together by duct tape. The bottom line is that what we wear on our feet communicates something about our situation. So next time you re in town have a look at the boots worn by one of the 220+ irrigators who after 23 months are still waiting for a decision from the Government of Canada on the divestiture of these irrigation projects. The next time you see an elected official of the government of Canada or employee of the Government of Canada check out their shoes. I highly doubt that their shoes are going to be held together with duct tape. Something wrong with this picture. Contact Minister Ritz and tell him your thoughts. Contact details are below. It is Time For You To Take Action Your Board Presidents cannot do this alone. It is time for you to wade into the muck and help to put some pressure on the Minister responsible for AAFC to keep this moving along. March 2017 is heading your way like a freight train. Who To Call: Honorable Gerry Ritz Minister responsible for AAFC Ottawa Office Phone: gerry.ritz@parl.gc.ca Constituency Office Phone: (306) ritzg5@sasktel.net What To Say: As a taxpaying citizen affected by this divestiture, you feel that the Crown s delay in responding is unfair and unacceptable. This is causing further hardships on you, your family and the community. As the Minister responsible for AAFC, you are calling on him to provide the direction and leadership required to get this back on track and get it done. The Government of Canada has always been clear that by March 31, 2017 it would no longer own, operate or manage these irrigation projects. There are only three irrigation seasons - 36 months left before the Government of Canada pulls out of the Irrigation Projects.

4 Page 4 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 Advoc c During On p ges 4, 5 nd 6 ou wi find is ing of he e c ivi ies c rried ou b he rrig ion Groups A i- nce our Bo rd Presiden nd Represen ive suppor ed b he Coordin or. Date Key Activity 2012 May Six Irrigation Groups submitted the requested proposals to the Government of Canada outlining their preferred options for divestiture of these Irrigation Projects. September 2012 Various communications between the Irrigation Groups and AAFC Water Infrastructure Division to clarify details in the proposals December 2012 No formal or informal response from the Government of Canada to the Irrigation Groups proposals as indicated in May Southwest Saskatchewan Irrigation Groups Presidents requested a meeting with David Anderson, MP for Cypress Hills Grasslands January 2013 Irrigation Group Presidents meet with David Anderson, MP for Cypress Hills Grasslands Met with AAFC Manager of Water Infrastructure Division and received copy Divestiture Options Analysis from AAFC 2013 May Letter sent to AAFC regarding the Delay in AAFC Divestiture Proposal Response to Southwest Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Receipt acknowledged No other response May Letter sent to AAFC regarding an Inclusive and Consultative Approach to Setting Meeting Dates Receipt acknowledged No other response May Letter sent to AAFC regarding the Rebuttal to AAFC Options Analysis Receipt acknowledged No other response 2013 June Letters, and phone communication to Request for Minister Ritz Summer Schedule Requests to his Scheduling Secretary, his Constituency Office and his Ottawa Office. After several attempts Receipt acknowledged No other response

5 Page 5 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 Advoc c During Date Key Activity 2013 June Advocacy by Board Presidents and Board Members Presidents and Board Members will call David Anderson s and Minister Ritz s office requesting the following: A response from AAFC on behalf of the Crown as to when the Irrigators will receive the Crown s response to the Irrigation Groups proposal by a certain date. A Meeting with Minister Ritz before the end of August July Follow-up on requests for Irrigation Groups to meet with Minister Ritz 2013 August Letters, and phone communications to Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture and Water Security Agency requesting assistance in urging the Government of Canada to move forward with this decision and communicate with the Irrigation Groups. Receipt acknowledged Letters sent from Saskatchewan ministries to Minister Ritz AAFC September Letters, and phone communications to Saskatchewan MLA s and Opposition MP s requesting assistance in urging the Government of Canada to move forward with this decision and communicate with the Irrigation Groups. Receipt acknowledged Letters sent from Saskatchewan ministries to Minister Ritz AAFC November Letters, and phone communications to affected RM s requesting assistance in urging the Government of Canada to move forward with this decision and communicate with the Irrigation Groups. Receipt acknowledged Letters sent from Saskatchewan ministries to Minister Ritz AAFC December Letters, and phone communication to Minister Ritz office to request a meeting over the holiday season. Requests to his Scheduling Secretary, his Constituency Office and his Ottawa Office. Receipt acknowledged Response indicating that the Minister s schedule was too busy and would not allow him time to meet with the Irrigation Groups December Advocacy by Board Presidents and Board Members Presidents and Board Members request to meet with David Anderson s and Minister Ritz s office requesting the following: A response from AAFC on behalf of the Crown as to when the Irrigators will receive the Crown s response to the Irrigation Groups proposal by a certain date. A Meeting with Minister Ritz.

6 Page 6 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 Advoc c During Date Key Activity 2014 January Irrigation Groups meet with David Anderson February Le er to Pierre Corriveau Request Mee ng Letter sent by Coordinator to Pierre Corriveau on behalf of the Southwest Saskatchewan-Flood Irrigation Groups requesting a meeting end of March Copies were sent to all Presidents, Irrigation Groups reps and Administrators. Followed up with a phone call Tuesday February 25, February P. Hayes met with AAFC representative while on business in Ottawa. He was informed that AAFC was very involved with the divestiture of the dams and reservoirs associated with the Irrigation Projects. This required negotiations with the Province of Saskatchewan. The AAFC representatives indicated that a response should be forthcoming in 3-4 weeks. Le er to Irriga ons Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Re: IRF Letter sent by Coordinator to Crops and Irrigation Branch requesting details on the Irrigation Replacement Fund that is required of them if the Irrigation Groups do accept transfer. Copies were sent to all Presidents, Irrigation Groups reps and Administrators. Followed up with a phone call Tuesday February 25, s and phone calls placed on March 11, New contact at the Ministry of Agriculture Jason Dury, Manager of Crops and Irrigation Branch, agreed to have the engineers determine a ball park figure Irrigation Replacement Fund for each Irrigation Groups March response from P. Corriveau on March 3 rd indicating Thank you for your February 19, , letter and follow-up call/voic requesting that I meet with the Irrigation Project Group (IGP) Presidents in the latter half of March. Please accept my apologies for the delays experienced to date in AAFC s response to the IPG proposals. I will be away for the next week. I anticipate that we will be able to arrange an update for you upon my return. Thank you Pierre Corriveau» Response via Scott Roy that P. Corriveau would not be able to arrange a meeting. Subsequent communication from P. Corriveau stated as follows: «Let me assure you again that the Department is looking into this issue very diligently and as soon as we are in a position to have a substantive discussion we will set up a meeting March SARM Convention Regina 2014 Several irrigators who are also Rural Municipality Councillors attended the SARM Convention. Attempts were made to get information to Minister Ritz. One individual was successful in meeting with Minister Ritz. Unfortunately that individual came away from the meeting with the very strong sense that Minister Ritz knew very little about the divestiture of the Irrigation Projects. Although he was polite, he did not seem to have a sincere interest in hearing about the irrigators concerns.

7 Page 7 Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups Newsletter March 2014 It is Time For You To Take Action Your Boards cannot do this alone. MP David Anderson has been very helpful. He has meet with us, listened to our concerns, and relayed our concerns to AAFC. As your Board President s we are now asking for you to wade into the muck and help to put some pressure on our elected representatives to keep this moving along. Call and thank David Anderson for advocating on behalf of his constituents. Ask him to keep on fighting on your behalf. March 2017 is heading your way like a freight train. Who To Call: MP David Anderson Phone Number: david.anderson1@sasktel.net What To Say: As a taxpaying citizen affected by this divestiture, you feel that the Crown s delay in responding is unfair and unacceptable. This is causing further hardships on you, your family and community. You are calling to ask your elected MP for Grasslands/Cypress Hills David Anderson to continue his efforts to help get this back on track by speaking to those responsible. The Government of Canada has always been clear that by March 31, 2017 it would no longer own, operate or manage these irrigation projects. There are only three irrigation seasons - 36 months left before the Government of Canada pulls out of the Irrigation Projects. Contact Us Give us a call for more information the Southwest Saskatchewan Flood Irrigation Groups issues and concerns associated with the divestiture of the Federal Government Flood Irrigation Projects. southsaskfloodirrigators@gmail.com P: