Legislative Assembly of Ontario
October 31, 2006
AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): A question to the Minister of Agriculture: On October 18, 2005, during estimates you said, "The CAIS program has not met their needs." You were referring to grain and oilseed farmers. 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."

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? Has that analysis been done?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I'm very happy to have an opportunity to correct the record for the honourable member and to speak about CAIS and how our government is working with our colleague ministers from across Canada to improve the CAIS program.

In 2005, we acted very swiftly to replace the deposit that was required of those who were going to participate, and it has now been replaced with a fee. That's what they wanted. We also announced that we are amending the formula to make negative margins coverable under this program. Another thing that we did just in September came at a cost of some $96 million, but we did adjust inventory valuations for the program. This is something that was identified by producers. Not all provincial governments across Canada have done this, but we have. At our last meeting in June, again with respect to CAIS, our provincial ministers said that they want to look at --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you, Minister. Supplementary?
Mr. Barrett: Minister, please don't tell us about changing the method for inventory evaluation. That's old news. That was four months late as it was. You've had three years to get this right. Farmers are getting tired of being tricked on this file. 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."

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?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I'm very happy to stand in this House and remind the honourable member -- I find it interesting you are quoting Ron Bonnett today when just the question before, our member cited Ron Bonnett, the president of the OFA, and you laughed at him. Shame on you.

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. And let me remind the honourable member that a few weeks ago, when the federal government had a $13-billion surplus, they put it in the bank. They didn't assign one cent to farmers or to risk management programs. So if you want to talk about people stepping aside from the issue, you call your federal member.