By Alice McFarlane

Manitoba rejects AgriStability proposal

Jan 26, 2021 | 5:12 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Manitoba has rejected the federal government’s proposal to improve AgriStability.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau spoke to the Keystone Agricultural Producers of Manitoba annual meeting today.

She said to make any significant changes to the program two-thirds of the provinces need to agree. The weight of each province is based on the level of participation of its farmers.

“For us to reach this two-thirds we need two of the three provinces,” Bibeau said. “I’m still very hopeful they will recognize how important it is for farmers.”

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Blaine Pederson had implied Ottawa would cut funding from AgriInsurance and AgriInvest at the expense of AgriStability. She said this was not true.

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“Absolutely not. I’m surprised to hear something like that. Minister Pedersen himself consulted the stakeholders. I’ve never made the suggestion of cutting other programs,” she said. “I’m really committed to improve AgriStability in the short term and have a closer look at all of the programs for the next generation of the Canadian partnership in 2023.”

The federal government’s offer includes the removal of the reference margin limit and an increase in the compensation rate from 70 per cent to 80 per cent.

Saskatchewan has already expressed concern about the added cost and wants an adjustment to the usual 60-40 cost share.

If the changes are to be retroactive for 2020 the decision must be made by the end of January, according to Bibeau.

“The longer we wait there will come a point when we won’t be able to make it retroactive.”

Bibeau is waiting to hear from the other provinces.

“I’m waiting for the official response. I’m very hopeful that we will reach the number we need so two-thirds of the representation. This is up to the provinces, and especially the prairie provinces, to make it happen,” Bibeau said.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF