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Ontario beef farmers pleased with
federal funding support Industry hopeful that matching provincial
announcement will follow
March 29, 2005 (Guelph) The Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association (OCA) is extremely appreciative of today’s
announcement by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy
Mitchell.
Ian McKillop, a beef farmer and president of OCA,
said that the news, which came as a welcome surprise to
cattle producers, will provide some much-needed support
to the struggling beef industry.
About $300 million of the $1 billion announcement is
expected to go directly to farmers of cattle and other
ruminant livestock across Canada. McKillop added that he
also expects that a matching announcement from the
provincial government will soon be forthcoming. “We hope
and expect that the Ontario government will participate
in the normal 60/40 cost-shared manner,” McKillop said.
Since the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
crisis began almost two years ago, Ontario’s 21,000 beef
farmers have lost an estimated $470 million even after
funds from government assistance programs were
distributed.
Dave Stewart, OCA’s Executive Director, said that his
association is equally pleased with Minister Mitchell’s
promise that the government will begin distributing the
new funds within the next few weeks. Farmers who
participated in the 2004 Transitional Industry Support
Program (TISP) will not have to apply for assistance but
will automatically receive a payment under the new
program. For others, there will be an application
process available in the near future.
McKillop said that the announcement comes at a
critical time for beef farmers. “We’re grateful for the
ongoing support of the government and this will
certainly help to sustain the industry in the
short-term.” He noted that with no end to the crisis in
sight, the cash infusion will give farmers some
financial assistance as they prepare for the season
ahead.
McKillop also mentioned that assistance programs like
the one announced today are designed to provide
temporary relief. The long-term viability of Canadian
beef farmers will result from a repositioning of the
industry which is currently underway. That repositioning
strategy, supported by government and industry alike,
includes expanding international markets and increasing
processing capacity within Canada. This will make Canada
less reliant on trade with a single country, like the
United States, and will enable the industry to be more
competitive in world markets.
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For further information contact:
Dave Stewart, Executive Director, Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association, 519-824-0334
Ian McKillop, President, Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association, 519-762-6484
www.cattle.guelph.on.ca |
