Farmers across the country are not terribly impressed with the effectiveness of the Federal AgriStability Program.
A Canadian Federation of Independent Business report shows that farmers’ frustration with the current Business Risk Management (BRM) program is only getting worse.
Marilyn Braun-Pollon is CFIB vice president of Agri business and says farmers want the Federal and Provincial Governments to take immediate steps to improve the tax and regulatory environment in which agri-business owners operate.
Additionally, they want programs like AgriStability made more farmer-friendly.
She says some of the producers concerns surround poor customer service, complex and large volumes of paperwork, timeliness issues, and predictability.
Braun-Pollon says other findings show that farmers are also paying more to belong to AgriStability than the much maligned CAIS program which it replaces.
She says farmers also are upset with the fact Ottawa and the Provinces still have not addressed these concerns and continue to debate the issue.
Braun-Pollon says Ministers have been reviewing BRM programs since July 2008 and CFIB farm members say it is time for action.
