The Canadian Swine Health Board is expressing relief with the outcome of Monday’s federal election which returned the Conservative government to power with a majority.
The March 22 federal budget, which was defeated triggering a federal election, contained a 24 million dollar commitment to the Canadian Swine Health Board over two years to continue initiatives aimed at managing swine disease within Canada.
On Monday voters elected a majority Conservative government.
Canadian Swine Health Board chair Florian Possberg says, since its creation, the agency has been able to initiate several programs to protect the Canadian swine herd from emerging disease and address established diseases.
Our indication is that the budget will be brought back before the house when the government reconvenes, parliament reconvenes.
We have every reason to believe that our 24 million dollar extension to Health Board funding will be included in that budget.
It’s a big relief to have the election behind us.
Our funding ran out, our agreement ran out on March 31, 2011 so it created quite a period of uncertainty.
Having a majority government, one where we can depend on some long term funding and we know the government’s committed to our industry and are looking at ways of preventing disease affecting our herds in the future.
We think that’s an excellent approach and so having this long term stability on the government side is really quite beneficial for us.
Possberg says it was the government’s commitment that started the Canadian Swine Board and suggests its re-election with a majority gives the board an opportunity to implement a long range plan to help the industry.
Source: Farmscape.Ca
