Ottawa wants to give money to more farmers.
But it can’t unless they apply to the national farm aid program.
Acutely aware of the criticism aimed at the Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program, federal officials last week said they will step up their campaign to make sure farmers apply.
Only 1,500 forms had been received last week from the four provinces where the federal government administers AIDA.
About 80 percent were from Saskatchewan, and virtually all the rest were from Manitoba. Only one application had been received from Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia has just signed onto the program.
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Richard Lavergne, a communications adviser for Agriculture Canada, said there have been 54 public information sessions for farmers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and more will be held after seeding is over. There will also be sessions for accountants, he said.
That was good news to Saskatchewan Wheat Pool vice-president Marvin Wiens. He told reporters he has heard of accountants charging as much as $1,500 to complete the forms.
Wiens said the program is not as complicated as the public perceives, but it will be difficult for Ottawa to change farmers’ minds.
“Coffee shop talk has basically almost killed this program in Saskatchewan,” he said.
Reg Grenier, of the AIDA administration, admitted that “fast-tracking” the program caused a problem. He said farmers were faced with too much, too fast, and since the application deadline was extended to July 31 there has been a softening in public opinion.
He also said the accountants’ fees likely reflected the quick time frame and the overlap with income tax season.
