Changing the federal farm aid program for next year won’t be good enough, says Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister.
Eric Upshall told reporters during a farm meeting in Regina June 5 that he has changed his mind about what good “tinkering” with the program could do.
“I form my opinions from talking to farmers,” he said. “I’ve come to the conclusion that it would be much easier to scrap the (Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance) forms, do a NISA top-up, … let everybody in and go with it.”
He said money Ottawa has set aside for AIDA should be distributed to NISA accounts instead. Farmers who don’t have accounts now would be incorporated into the program.
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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
The province did something similar a few months ago when it announced an $85 million NISA enhancement.
“AIDA isn’t working,” Upshall said. “Tinkering won’t help.”
Upshall made his comments a day after touring the soggy southeastern part of the province and moments after addressing about 200 people at a meeting organized by the Bengough Rally Group.
At that meeting, many criticized AIDA and spoke about the anger, frustration and hopelessness felt on the farm. Several said they knew of suicides brought on by financial problems. Others urged farmers and their families to talk about their problems and get help.
The effects beyond the farm were also discussed.
Larry Schneider, of the Prairie Implement Manufacturers Association, said the largest employer in his group one year ago had 1,700 employees. This year, the company has 28.
Manufacturers of equipment for the livestock sector are faring better, but the grain side is hurting.
“We share that pain,” Schneider said.
Penny Gambell, vice-president of the British Columbia Fruit Growers, told the crowd that farm aid isn’t working in her province either.
Under the whole farm insurance program there, only 300 of the province’s 1,800 growers applied for assistance in 1997 and only 160 received cheques.
Gambell said growers didn’t apply because they knew they wouldn’t be eligible. As well, the form was 20 pages long. By the time she submitted the form and her supporting documents, it was 77 pages.
She agreed with Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Bob Friesen, who said yearly losses must be included. Friesen said those losses are not the fault of the farmer, but are due to a collapse in price and world markets.
“I believe the door is still open to cover negative margins for ’98,” he said.
Several senators and members of Parliament attended the meeting.
Senator Len Gustafson, chair of the Senate agriculture committee, received a standing ovation for his call for an acreage-based payment.
He said other countries stand behind their farmers and Ottawa should do the same.
Federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief did not attend the meeting. Organizer Bob Thomas sported a blue T-shirt with a new twist on the acronym AIDA: Ag minister In Disappearing Act.
The front of the T-shirt reads like a poster for a missing person, asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of Vanclief to call Thomas or fellow organizer Sharon Nicholson.
