CFA applauds repayment announcement

(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is welcoming today’s announcement from Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Chuck Strahl that the government will defer collection of overpayments made to farmers under the Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization (CAIS) program.

 “The issue of CAIS clawbacks has always been a big concern for farmers,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “Deferring collection of those overpayments will enable farmers to concentrate on their spring work without having to worry about the government collection agent showing up at their door.”

The federal announcement only applies in provinces where the federal government delivers the CAIS Program: British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Yukon Territory. CFA is calling on the provinces where the provincial government delivers the program to follow the federal government’s lead and defer collecting on CAIS overpayments in their provinces.

“The federal government has clearly listened to farmers on this issue,” said Friesen. “We hope provinces will take note and follow suit.”

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.