RRCA asks for federal money to run inspection station

Michael Hilborn
Fort Frances Times

The only privately-operated livestock inspection station in Canada is in danger of closing its chutes if the federal government doesn’t open its purse strings, says the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association (RRCA).
Outgoing RRCA president Tom Morrish said the port of entry station in Rainy River has been an important link in the association since it was first opened in 1995, but is in urgent need of additional funding in order to maintain and upgrade its facilities. So far, pleas to the federal government have fallen on deaf ears.
“We’d really like some government assistance, but we’re not getting far with this,” he said to the audience at the annual RRCA meeting in Stratton last week. “We’ve been chasing this for five years.”
The station is used to inspect and certify breeder cattle coming into Canada from Minnesota or going the other way. It is also used to clear cattle in transit from Rainy River to points in western Canada via the United States.
This last function, says Morrish, is a real time and money saver for farmers, since it cuts the transportation time and costs significantly by avoiding the much longer northern route through Kenora.
Station manager and cattle farmer Linda Armstrong can’t understand why the government is reluctant to pitch in for such an important project when the amount of money required is so insignificant.
“What we need is a few dollars to maintain it,” said Armstrong. “We could run it for years for $50,000.”
Armstrong said the only current revenue generator for the station is the fees paid on the cattle coming through. Last year, 340 head were inspected: each paid $20 plus $20 per load plus GST. That amounted to only $526, while the cost of operating and maintaining the station was $2,527.08, for a net loss of slightly over $2,000. Armstrong said without some contribution from the government, the RRCA will have to continue to finance the deficit and in light of other federal contributions to the region lately, this seemed like a small request.
“If you can do this for the Rainy River District, you can do this for the cattlemen,” she reasoned, referring to the government cheques Minister for Native Affairs and Northern Development Robert Nault handed out to various municipalities and groups throughout the region earlier this month.
Morrish said he even approached Queen’s Park in hopes of eliciting some support, but was bluntly told it was a federal matter and to expect no help from the province .
Undeterred, Morrish then tried another tactic. Upon learning the federal government was committing up to $30 million to shore up border security, he once again approached Nault’s office, pitching the idea the inspection station qualified as a security issue. That too was somewhat less than successful.
“I was told, ‘Don’t even think about it. That money’s for something else,’” said Morrish.
Nault’s office did recommend, however, that Morrish address his concerns to the Ministry of Agriculture, since this matter falls under its jurisdiction. Morrish then sent a letter to Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief as well as a copy to Nault’s office. He says he has not yet received a response from Vanclief’s office, but the House is just now returning from its Christmas recess and he hopes for a favourable response shortly.