For immediate release:
November 1, 2006

Barrett presses for transformation of CAIS
Ag. Minister responds with angry words – and little action
it is a tale… full of sound and fury, signifying nothing – William Shakespeare

Queen’s Park— Opposition Agriculture Critic Toby Barrett’s questions on continued government lip service to farmers met with an angry response – but no action - from Minister Leona Dombrowsky in the Legislature yesterday.

Barrett was requesting a progress report on the proposed transformation of the CAIS (Canadian Agriculture Income Support) program.

“On October 18, 2005, during estimates you said, ‘The CAIS program has not met their needs.’ - on November 23 last year, you said, ‘Their needs are not being met by the business risk management program that's in place at the present time.’ And on April 7, this spring, you said, "All provinces recognize that CAIS is not working well,” Barrett pointed out in his first question. “Minister, you've talked about the need to transform CAIS. The only transformation we've seen is your disappearing act of late. Where is the analysis the Ontario Federation of Agriculture requested on farm income if NISA was still in place?”

In response, the Minister ignored the OFA request, choosing instead to take credit for some necessary changes to CAIS that were implemented nation-wide, before noting, “Another thing that we did just in September …we did adjust inventory valuations for the program.”

The Minister failed to note that the inventory valuation adjustment came four months after it was first announced by the federal government leaving Ontario farmers at a competitive disadvantage to those in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, where money had already begun to flow.

In his supplementary question, Barrett pointed out that there are many in the farm sector calling for action on agriculture support.

“Don McCabe of the OFA says, ‘We need to see immediate action.’ OFA president Bonnett states, ‘Workable proposals to rectify inequities have been repeatedly put forward but ignored by governments.’” Barrett quoted. “Just what is this transformation, Minister? Some questions: Are you funding a risk management program for cash crop? Are you bringing back NISA for farmers? What about self-directed production insurance for hort.? What is the transformation? What are you doing?”

The Minister responded angrily with more empty words and fingerpointing.

“What our government has committed to do with respect to business risk management for farmers -- in our budget document, we said that this government remains committed to a multi-year strategy that will stabilize and strengthen the agriculture industry, but it does require the federal government's participation,” the Minister retorted, “if you want to talk about people stepping aside from the issue, you call your federal member.”

For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (519) 428-0446, (416) 325-8404, or 1-800-903-8629