If federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief is to succeed in seeing the contentious agricultural policy framework become law before there is regime change in Ottawa this winter with a new government and possibly a different agenda, it will be up to the next Saskatchewan government to make it happen.
Ottawa needs either Ontario or Saskatchewan to join the APF before the existing Net Income Stabilization Account program can be abolished in favour of the proposed new Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization Program. Seven provinces have joined, some under duress, but one of the two biggest agricultural provinces still must join to make it official.
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Last week, Ontario said it is in no rush to sign and without federal compromise, no signing can be expected soon.
With Ontario’s pronouncement, all eyes will be on Regina to see what the next Saskatchewan agriculture minister says.
The Nov. 5 Saskatchewan election will produce a new government with a need for federal funds and yet a farm lobby that is insisting the APF must be improved and enriched before the province joins.
Newly installed Ontario Liberal agriculture minister Steve Peters said Oct. 30 he will not sign until Ontario farm groups tell him to sign and they are adamant that Ottawa must change the APF design before it is worth signing.
Peters acknowledged the federal plan would make money available for such acceptable and popular programs that cover research, the environment and food safety.
However, Ontario farm groups continue to insist there would be less support for the business risk management proposals, replacing NISA and existing crop insurance programs with new rules and ending federal contributions to provincially designed “companion programs” within three years.
“My understanding is that there are a number of outstanding issues that have to be addressed before Ontario signs on,” Peters told a news conference within days of being sworn in and after a morning meeting with a coalition of Ontario farm leaders.
“The APF will be helpful on a number of files but on the business risk management pillar, we will not be signing until the federal government makes significant changes to the rules to make it more acceptable to Ontario farmers.”
Peters said he would meet with Vanclief soon to discuss Ontario’s objections, which include the lack of companion program funding, affordability and a lack of program sensitivity to incremental farm income drops.
Critics say the triggering formula is more attuned to dramatic income drops in livestock sectors than to the steady erosion of income experienced by grains and oilseed farmers in recent years.
But the Ontario minister will be telling the federal minister nothing he does not already know.
Former Progressive Conservative agriculture minister Helen Johns steadfastly refused to sign as long as farm leaders were opposed and Ontario’s farm leaders have been clear in their opposition and their demands for change.
