CALGARY — Producers protesting shortfalls in the 1992 GRIP payout have launched a court action.
The action is against a shortfall in payouts on feed wheat. A second claim argues the 1994 GRIP contract isn’t valid because changes weren’t issued within the deadline stated in the contract, said Steve Denecky, who represents the plaintiffs.
Changes are supposed to be announced March 1, but producers didn’t receive notice until March 23.
If the court says the 1994 contract is valid, farmers should have the option to pull out of GRIP without penalty, said Denecky.
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“We’re saying those are fundamental changes to the contract and therefore we should have the option of getting out,” he said.
The statement of claim from six plaintiffs, filed in Lethbridge April 28, is against the Alberta government and the Alberta Financial Services Corporation, which administers the Gross Revenue Insurance Plan and crop insurance.
Bob Klassen, representing Producers for Fair Insurance, the group which launched the suit, sent an open letter May 6 to agriculture minister Walter Pazskowski and Bob Splane, president of the Agriculture and Financial Services Corporation. The letter asks that the plaintiffs and the government apply jointly to the courts for a ruling on the specific rights and obligations of each policy holder.
Dwight Dibben from Pazskowski’s office said a response will be sent to Klassen when the letter has been reviewed.
