The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is disappointed with the lack of clear progress towards meaningful reforms of the BRM suite and frustrated with the lack of urgency in responding to the immediate challenges confronting Canadian producers.
The comprehensive review of BRM programs has been underway for nearly three years. While CFA appreciates the continued focus of FPT governments on this critical issue, the continued lack of progress towards any significant program reforms leaves farmers without much-needed relief at this critical time, nor any certainty that assistance is on the way.
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Leading up to this meeting CFA has continued to highlight the need for an urgent and transparent assessment process to determine the extent to which short-term measures are needed in response to the unique trade-related challenges affecting a number of major Canadian agricultural commodities in 2019.
At the same time, CFA has noted for years that enhanced AgriStability coverage is needed to ensure farmers have the help they need moving forward to help manage the increasing risks they face beyond their control.
The CFA calls on Minister Bibeau and her ministerial colleagues from across Canada to respond to farmers’ call for action through urgent and significant reforms to AgriStability that truly enhance the level of risk management support available to producers at this critical juncture.
To ensure ministers have the capacity to make these reforms, CFA calls upon the prime minister and premiers from across Canada to ensure agriculture ministers have the flexibility needed to provide this critical assistance. CFA is ready to work hand in hand with FPT governments to support this work, while continue to explore the long-term reforms needed for the next policy framework.
The above is an excerpt from the CFA’s statement on a recent meeting of Canadian agriculture ministers late last year.
