Keystone Agricultural Producers took another kick at an already dented can last week.
During a council meeting in Brandon, Man., the general farm group mulled over its concerns with the Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program. KAP members said the program is too complex and was tailored in a way that makes it difficult for farmers to qualify.
“Your chances of getting a payment under this program are just about nil, at least the way it is now,” said Ron Rutherford, who farms near Melita, Man.
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Meanwhile, farmers learned last week that some of them will have more time to prepare their AIDA applications. The deadline was extended to July 31, said Canada’s agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief.
The previous deadline was June 15 for individual farmers and June 30 for corporations. The deadline extension applies to Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, where the program is administered by the federal government.
Vanclief said the extension will give farmers time to concentrate on spring seeding, without the risk of missing the AIDA deadline. It will also give accountants more time to cope with the workload, since the income tax filing deadline is also fast approaching.
KAP vowed last week to continue efforts to get the program changed. The farm lobby group said it wants it to be less cumbersome and more available to needy producers.
Les Jacobson, who serves on the national farm safety net advisory committee, said there is a reluctance on the part of Ottawa to make changes to AIDA. So far, federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief has refused to make key changes proposed by KAP.
KAP members wondered whether Ottawa has a sincere desire to get all of the money allocated to AIDA into farmers’ hands. President Don Dewar said he wants the federal government to make its intentions clear.
