The final numbers are still being crunched but it appears Saskatchewan farmers will not get their entire Canadian Farm Income Program entitlements.
“It looks like some type of prorating will take place,” said Hal Cushon, acting deputy agriculture minister.
The province has been paying out 70 percent of its 40 percent share of CFIP payments. Ottawa has been paying the same percentage of its 60 percent share.
Federal agriculture minister Bob Speller said last month he would ask cabinet to approve additional spending of $65 million to cover a federal shortfall. Ottawa had budgeted $2.2 billion over the three-year life of the program; the Saskatchewan share of that this year is $95 million.
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However, the province’s financial situation makes a similar request unlikely. Cabinet has already passed special warrants to finance BSE programs and other spending.
Saskatchewan budgeted $70 million for CFIP last year. That includes several million dollars for administration costs.
Ellen Funk, spokesperson for CFIP in Winnipeg, said she didn’t know how soon there would be a decision on a final federal payment.
“It’s still being worked on,” she said.
Ottawa has paid 70 percent of its share in all provinces to date.
Funk noted that Alberta is paying its farmers 100 percent, including the federal portion.
“They are anticipating that we will be making a final payment,” she said.
As of Feb. 29, CFIP had paid out $388 million to 22,391 claimants across the country. About 4,000 forms had yet to be processed.
Most of the money went to Alberta, where 7,773 farmers received $181 million.
But Saskatchewan had the most approved claims at 9,766. Payments to those farmers totalled $141 million.
