M.P. Tilson Comments on $1 Billion for Farmers

March 09, 2021

BOLTON – Today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, announced two new commitments to farmers totalling $1 billion for improvements to national farm income programs. These investments are the next important steps in fulfilling our Government’s commitment to replace the Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization (CAIS) program.

The announcement will mean an injection of $400 million directly to producers to help with the high cost of production in farming. An additional $600 million is earmarked to kick-start new government/producer savings accounts that would go into effect once an agreement is reached between the provinces and territories.

David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, was available this week for comment, “I’m very pleased with our Government’s latest step in replacing CAIS with a more predictable and bankable program that will actually respond to the needs of Canadian farmers. This announcement will benefit the farming community of Dufferin-Caledon, which deserves an ally in Ottawa, following years of neglect by previous governments.”

The $1 billion federal initiative includes:

• A federal commitment to the creation of contributory-style producer savings accounts;

• A $600 million federal investment to kick-start the accounts;

• A direct payment of $400 million to producers this year to help address high production costs over the last four years and $100 million annually, to address cost of production issues when they occur.

The announcement builds on the $1.5 billion for 2006-2007, as announced in Budget 2006 that helped to address gaps in the system in areas such as production insurance, the margin-based program and putting in place a new disaster relief framework.

This new funding will be available as soon as Parliament approves the upcoming budget.