POINTE-AU-PIC, Que. – Canada’s largest farm lobby wants Ottawa to throw its financial weight around by insisting provinces that receive federal crop insurance funding must consult farmers before major program changes are made.
Leaders of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture last week worried the farm safety net program is being fragmented province by province with little federal leadership insisting on national standards.
At its summer board meeting, the CFA decided Ottawa should attach conditions to the hundreds of millions of dollars it sends to the provinces for crop insurance.
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In the face of reports that as many as seven provinces are considering changing their crop insurance programs but many have not had formal farmer consultations, the CFA decided to intervene.
It is writing to federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale, asking that federal transfers be accompanied by a demand that no major provincial crop insurance changes be made without broad farmer involvement and approval.
“The federal government still pays two-thirds of the government share but it is an attitude thing,” said CFA president Jack Wilkinson. “The feds seem to be afraid to play hard ball and demand some national standards. That is not in vogue.”
Around the CFA table last week, there was some unease about the idea of a strong stand in favor of national standards.
Quebec delegates argued against rigid national standards.
A Manitoba delegate warned that if CFA takes a position without the power to influence the decision, “you become a dripping tap.”
But Wilkinson insisted the issue of national standards and federal involvement is crucial.
He said as many as seven provinces are considering switching to a two-tier crop insurance system and few farmers know that.
“The federal government should demand that there be credibility and consultation on such a major change if they are to put money on the table,” he told CFA delegates.
Later, Wilkinson expressed frustration at Ottawa’s apparent willingness to let the provinces define the rules for the safety net program.
He said national standards are not adequate and the provinces are slipping back toward the era when there were different support levels and provincial production wars based on levels of subsidy.
