“DEVOLIN CAUTIOUS ABOUT CAIS PAYMENTS”

November 7, 2006

OTTAWA – Local MP Barry Devolin was told today that Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization (CAIS) program adjustment cheques for 2003 and 2004 are expected to be in the mail in early December.

“I’m glad to hear that Ontario farmers will be getting their CAIS adjustments sooner rather than later,” said Devolin. “But I also know that farmers have been down this road before, and that’s why I am cautiously optimistic rather than certain about this timetable.”

“Some people may not know that while Ottawa directly administers the CAIS program in six provinces, the other four provinces – including Ontario – administer these programs themselves,” explained Devolin. “That’s why I was glad to hear that Ontario has already received its share of the $900 million of federal funds, and now it is up to Agricorp to get the cheques out to individual farmers as quickly as possible.”

Danny Foster, Agriculture Canada’s Director General of Business Risk Management Program Development outlined the Ontario timetable in response to Devolin’s direct questioning before the Agriculture Committee about what Ontario farmers should expect.

Foster said it is his understanding that two batches of cheques – for 2003 and 2004 respectively – will be released by Ontario in the first two weeks of December.

Foster also said that the adjustments for 2003 and 2004 will consume about $760 million of the $900 million allocated last spring by Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl for retroactive CAIS adjustments, leaving about $140 million for the 2005 adjustments, due to go out to farmers in early 2007.

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For more information contact:

Barry Devolin, MP

(705) 324-2400

(866) 688-9881