After driving his combine 4,800 km from his grain farm in Dawson Creek, B.C., producer Nick Parsons arrived on Parliament Hill yesterday, vowing to remain until he's sure his call for increased farm aid has been heard. Though he's been told the chances of ever meeting with Chretien are unlikely, Parsons did meet with federal Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief. While Vanclief wouldn't promise more farm aid, he said he will raise the issue this week at a meeting with provincial agriculture ministers. Later police forced Parsons to move the combine to a park several kilometres away from the Hill. Thousands of Canadian grain farmers say they're on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor prices and bad weather.
Farmers say it is flawed and underfunded.
Reform Leader Preston Manning said the government should send a high-level mission to Washington and Europe to show the negative effects on prices of other countries' farm subsidies. Nick Parsons, a B.C. grain farmer, arrived on Parilament Hill yesterday after driving his combine 4,800 km from Dawson Creek to show the government he won't go away until his opinions on farm aid are heard.