Potato growers protest in P.E.I. Group raps Ottawa’s role in wort crisis

SUMMERSIDE, Prince Edward Island – About 300 Prince Edward Island potato growers shut down the Summerside tax center for 12 hours Monday to protest the federal government’s handling of the potato wart crisis.

The farmers say the protest represented an accumulation of months of frustration and disbelief at Ottawa’s inaction toward their industry’s plight.

“What we’re doing today is a situation of desperation,” protest organizer Elmer MacDonald said. “For most of us, we’re at the end of the line.

“We don’t know where to go from here.”

The protesters accused federal Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief of refusing to defend the industry in a timely manner after the closure of the U.S. border to potatoes from the province.

The Americans took the action last fall after a small outbreak of potato wart, a disease that renders potatoes unmarketable, was discovered on the island.

The farmers also say a $12.6 million support package announced last week by Ottawa falls short of addressing the financial losses suffered after the border closure.

Dozens of tractors, tractor-trailers and other heavy farm vehicles converged at the federal tax center, slowing traffic in the process.

MacDonald said the potato growers “wanted to make a statement to Ottawa” about the “insulting” compensation package and Ottawa’s failure to launch retaliatory measures against the United States for “illegal and immoral” trade actions.

“We have to wonder, sometimes, if the federal government is indeed interested in the farmers of P.E.I.,” he said.

Chris Green, a potato grower, said his operations have suffered $500,000 in lost sales, adding the damage could be even greater the longer borders remain closed.

Three farm workers left last week because of a lack of work, he said.

“I feel our government isn’t defending us against the U.S.,” said Green. “We’re just a puppet on a string.”

Protesters have issued a challenge to Vanclief to visit the province and see for himself how the border closures have hurt growers.