GATINEAU, Que. — Canada’s agriculture ministers have launched what federal minister Gerry Ritz calls the final stage of negotiations for the next five-year farm program framework.
Changes are clearly in the works.
The next Growing Forward framework will stress market access, innovation and “refocused” farm safety net programs that reduce the focus on business risk management programs and the need for government financial aid.
Ministers, who face deficit reduction pressures and a financially buoyant industry that is making few economic demands, see the next agreement as a chance to redesign policy emphasis.
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There are increasing indications that some of the coverage levels in Growing Forward, already considered too weak or unpredictable by many industry critics, may be diluted to convince farmers to take more responsibility for their own financial situation.
It could lead to a greater emphasis on insurance programs.
“We continue to work with our partners, both industry and the provinces and territories, to make sure that we deliver on marketplace, not mailbox,” Ritz told an April 20 news conference at the end of a one-day federal-provincial ministers’ meeting.
He insisted the next five-year policy framework will be agreed to in principle by ministers in September at a Whitehorse meeting and will be implemented April 1, 2013, as planned.
Some industry leaders have questioned whether ministers would be ready to meet the deadline because of delays during the past year with elections in many jurisdictions.
“Our goal is to sign the agreement at our annual meeting in September and to have the new framework in place by April 1, 2013,” Ritz said.
