Indian Head anxious to save Sask. research centre following Ag Canada's closure notice
CBC
Politicians and local stakeholders met in Indian Head on Friday to make a plan as a farm research centre in the eastern Saskatchewan town faces closure.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is closing seven research operations across the country, including satellite research farms in the town of Scott, southwest of North Battleford, Sask., and near Indian Head, about 70 kilometres east of Regina.
It's part of the federal government's efforts to cut the size of the public service, the department has said.
Workers at the satellite farms research how to improve crop production on the Prairies.
Just under 40 full-time employees in Indian Head will either be out of work or will need to relocate to another rural municipality, according to the town's mayor, who says the community is shocked.
"Tons of people reaching out, phoning me, saying what are we doing? What is the town doing?" said Indian Head Mayor Steven Cole.
Indian Head has a population of around 2,000 people. Closing the research farm would also mean another approximately 30 people typically brought in to work during crop season would not be employed.
"[It’s] not just those people that are losing their jobs, it's their spouses and what they're involved with in town," said Cole.
"Whether they are teachers, whether they are nurses … [or] volunteers for Scouts and leaders and hockey coaches and stuff. So it's going to affect us huge."
People in the area say the research farm is critical to the community, including the younger generation.
"The experimental farm is a very crucial part of Indian Head’s community.… They supply a lot of teenagers jobs, and it's the highest-paying job in the area. So lots of us like to work there," said Natalie Nichol, 17.
"Lots of our parents and family members work there. And if it shuts down, we don't have jobs. It’s very important, because agriculture is a very important part of our community and Saskatchewan in general."
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has said that across the country, about 665 department positions have been reduced and nearly 1,050 employees received notices on Jan. 22.
"Like other federal departments, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has identified savings over three years while remaining focused on its core mandate," the department said in a statement.
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