Angry Farmers Rally At Legislature
Want money owed by Big Sky Farms
"If we would've been paid within three months we would've been okay with that, whatever. But not being paid is not an option."
Rob Carlson speaks for dozens of angry farmers around the province that rallied at the provincial Legislature Tuesday, some whose livelihoods are at stake after the closing of Big Sky Farms. The pork producer recently entered creditor protection, meaning the farmers that were owed money for supplying feed grain are without payment. Some are out a year's salary or more. In all the company owes about $96 million and it is likely the banks on the list of creditors will get paid before farmers.
Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud held a meeting with the farmers after Question Period.
"We need this discussion, we need to see where they're coming from and they need to know where we're coming from. We're not putting money into any part of Big Sky or any of the creditors that are out there."
He continues to insist it isn't up to the government to cover the debts, saying it took a hands-off approach to the company's day-to-day operations.
Comments
I thought farmers were
I thought farmers were supposed to know about putting all your eggs in one basket.
Time these 'businessmen'
Time these 'businessmen' woke up to reality. You want to play with the big boys, you live with the consequences. You're not the first to ever lose in a bankruptcy. Quit whining!
Except if you work for GM,
Except if you work for GM, banking sector, or any other unsustainable bloated government price fixing pork project (gun registry, welfare, medical system, etc etc).
Yes, they need to be careful like anyone else. But, if anyone was to receive a bailout, I want it to be farmers. They, unlike most other bailout recipients, provide a valuable service: GROWING FOOD.
Those were federal
Those were federal government bailouts. It doesn't make them right still, but that was not provincial government. The Sask Party wants everyone to play by the same rules. I don't see a problem with that. I would imagine that the people that don't support a farmer bailout also didn't support the other bailouts. I didn't. If you can't run a business profitably, you shouldn't be in business. Plain and simple. Whether your are a farmer or auto manufacturer.
And once again the farmers
And once again the farmers get screwed.
Now that was stupid. The
Now that was stupid. The laziest whinest group. You play with the big boys and you think that your a businessman you will get burnt. Get over it whiner.
Hell give me a hand out for every stolen item ... or broken or when I get cheated by a customer. Time for some reality if you can be a business man then do not try to act like one. Every time you turn around its a farmer with his hand out. Stop the stupidity no more bail outs.
If you ask any one of them,
If you ask any one of them, I betcha they'll say they're businessmen. What exactly does that mean?
Carlson should shut his hole
I wish Carlson would shut his hole. He doesn't speak for all the guys out money. He did organize the guys who were out money but embarrassed many of the guys with his antics last week.
lol whine whine whine So
lol whine whine whine
So called "big businessmen" you voted in SP now live with it and stop the whining. Just maybe you will have to get a REAL job. Its more than time to stop the hand outs for farmers. Its great that the SP will not bow to these whiners.The socialist would have bailed them out again and again.
Not sure where you're coming frm there, Anonymous...
It kinda looks like you are supporting the SaskParty, but maybe not. These guys do work for a living but they stand to lose a lot of money. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sold on a buyout either, but to call them lazy just isn't right. I'd like to see how loudly you would whine if you lost 30 thousand dollars to a company owned in a large part by the provincial government. How long would you have to work at your REAL job to make that kind of money up? Regarding the socialists, you got it almost right. They would have found a way to bleed money at the problem but somehow not actually solve any of the problems.
I have a problem with the "big business" comment also. That might apply in other areas of the province, but around Rama in North East Saskatchewan the farms are still pretty small by current standards, nothing like the way it is in the southern parts. Not big business by any means, on the average, and losing a few thousand dollars would be economically devastating to some of these farmers. Having said that, business is business and any money coming from the government would be a gift.
Hello it was their choice to
Hello it was their choice to sell. It was their choice to keep delivering.
NO BAILOUTS. If you are crap at what you are doing then sell, get out. Go push a broom.
Since when is farming not a
Since when is farming not a real job???? You ever done it? Working 12-18 hours a day for 2 months in the fall?? nearly as much in the spring? Totally dependent on what a government board will give you for your hard work? Where would society be without farmers? What do you consider a "real" job? Sitting behind a desk and filling out paperwork? You should try cleaning out grain bins when its 30 some degrees.
whiner
Get off your fat farmer a$$.
I work those hours every day, farming and the hand outs would be like a holiday.
No one will bail me out I got a bad check and the guy went belly up just had to grin and work harder and longer. I wish I had one of those nice new 4x4 with a F plate. You want a real job I got one for you -40 to +40, no AC/heated cab to whine in. Joking right riding around in AC tracor is hard work, the hardest thing is getting the fat butt into the cab.
Go to the gov't board and see what they gave you for the loads and stop the whining. Thats what happens when you think your smarter than the grain board .. you lose. So suck it up buttercup
Hate to tell you this, I am
Hate to tell you this, I am not a farmer.... your just very presumptive. I happen to work at an implement dealer as well as being an EMT... I have done my share of farm work growing up in rural Saskatchewan. I don't want your real job -40 to +40, it obviously has something to do with your sour attitude... :D
Excuse me, a REAL job? What
Excuse me, a REAL job? What is YOUR real job? Yes this is a REAL job AND a business. Just becuase it isn't 8:00-5:00 Mon-Fri, with paid holidays doesn't mean this is not REAL, my friend. You must not know one person who is involved in agriculture in some form, whether it is someone who works for a grain company, a fertilzer company, a chemical company, someone who works for an implement dealer, implement manufacturer, crop insurance, anyone in the beef industry, shall I go on? You lose farming or "big businessmen" as you put it, the trickle down effect is huge for our province. But if you don't know anyone who is evenly remotely affected, I guess it won't bother you.
You also probably do not eat steak, or burgers, or bacon, or buns for those burgers or hot dogs, or toast in the morning, or cereal either. Probably not even veggies, becuase they generally come from somewhere that is involved in agriculture. I suggest you travel to your nearest ranch/farm and just ask the people who live there if what they do for a living is a "REAL" job or not, see what their response is, face to face, with someone who lives and works it everyday.
And also, just so you know, I don't necessarily agree with a bailout.
A real job in my mind is one
A real job in my mind is one that you dont need to constantly ask for money to stop being bankrupt, and one that isnt considered a slave's wage
Like any other business its
Like any other business its not for the weak. Its time to thin the herd and if a farmer falls flat then he will be like anyother business gone. Some one else will replace him. Your weak your gone. Its time we stop paying for stupid business decisions.
End to bail outs. No more
End to bail outs. No more Saskwhiners. Thats all the farmers do is whine. Sask is not about a few miss guided farmers but potash, mining and oil. If you so much for wannabe businessmen time to move on or get out. Thats what happens in business. bye bye boys
Get a life... If there
Get a life... If there weren't any farmers you would starv to death. Think about it (comment removed by moderator).
classy reply must be a
classy reply must be a farmer. You have zero sense and logic, just because a cafe fails do we go hungary or does another one open up or two more open up?
No hand outs/bail outs cut the loses and let the guys who know how to farm farm. Time to get rid of the failures.
What else is new. We as
What else is new. We as farmers take great risk everytime we ship grain. Always follow your grain shipment to destination and insist on payment immediately or no more shipments. It sucks to be the last "pig" at the trough!
No one forced these
No one forced these "BUSINESSES" to sell their product, it was their decision. They want control of when and who they sell to. Well welcome to the real world guys, stop the whining you did it to yourself. Get rid of the weak in business. Its whine after whine after whine. Hand out hand out and more handouts. Enough already.
I feel for these farmers but
I feel for these farmers but it is NOT the place of government to pay people when companies go bankrupt.
The government has NO responsibility here. If they did then that means anytime you buy a stock or RRSP that you should be libel for the debts of that company?
NO WAY!
i wonder how much greed was
i wonder how much greed was involved. i mean someone or something must have leaked out or been to good to be true. maybe they thought will just keep hauling to them we will get paid no matter what. it is tough but i wonder is there more to it. and like someone said your not the first ,you wont be the last so stand in line and get what you get ,just like any one else would.
A different tack here...
I'm going to take a little bit of a different tack here. Unlike many people, I DO believe that the government may have some responsibility here, but not necessarily for 100% of the debts.
This leads me to my other point - THIS sort of thing is why governments should not be invested in any commercial enterprises, or as Gormley just stated "This is a reason why governments shouldn't the hell be in business."
I was owed $20,000 from a
I was owed $20,000 from a company that went bankrupt. I received nothing for that work. If the farmers want a bailout, I should get one too. But unlike them, I accept responsibility for my bad business decision not to ask for progress payments. I didn't do my due diligence and neither have the farmers. Why are they any different? I work hard, they work hard. I voted SP, so did they. I don't blame the Sask Party, I blame myself. What ever happened to personal responsibility? The government should not determine winners and loosers.
All you supporters, give me one good reason why the farmers should get more than me.
but this might be different...
I'm not a fan of bailouts, either. However, doesn't the government have 60% of the share in this outfit? There is a somewhat logical argument that says the government should pay these folks 60% of the money owed. (And yes, I do know this isn't always the procedure used for creditor protection cases.)
You are right. This would
You are right. This would not be normal procedure and would therefore constitute a taxpayer bailout. Bailouts take money from responsible people and use it to subsidise irresponsible people that gamble with their money. You take the risk of providing goods without payment up front, you pay the consequences. All businesses have to write of bad debts.
tough call....
Yep, that too is a good point. Still, I don't mind the 2-part solution proposed by the provincial Liberal Party: 1st, just reimburse these farmers. 2nd, immediately get the heck out of this, and any other, agriculture-related business.
Just a thought.
!!! HERE IS THE REAL ANSWER PEOPLE !!!
Over the past 15 years, my company has supplied my product to many a farmer and industrial company. From time to time farmers have claimed bankruptcy and since this is their primary place of residence, I could not collect against their home or the farm. Bankruptcy protected them and the debt was wiped clean after 10% on the dollar was doled out over 2 years.
Turn around is fair play. As easy as the bankruptcy laws can work in your favor, the person on the other side can use them against you.
Sucks doesn't it !!!!
Why are we only talking about the farmers?
What about the management of Big Sky taking deliveries of grain when they knew they didn't have the money to pay for it? Maybe some of them need to spend Christmas in Jail!
Bailout
While I feel sorry for anyone who lost money through investments, sale of product, completion of contracts, etc. you have to follow the proceedures as set out by law. Perhaps as with any business transaction you should have investigated you investment (sale of grain)a little closer. If the goverment was to bail out everyone who has made a bad investment where would we be?
I think the pig business was a bad idia from the start as it is a very hard business and has cost a lot of people many dollars in the past.
Farm bailout
Farming is definitely a real job - no one should argue that. However, Chris and anonymous should be careful that by supporting their profession, they are denegrating other workers (those who are employed in an office) - the very thing they are expressing indignation over! Watch the hypocrisy gentlemen.