GOVERNMENT OF CANADA KEEPS IT COMMITMENT TO
HELP LOW-INCOME FARM FAMILIES

OTTAWA – Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, is pleased with Monday’s announcement confirming the federal government’s dedication of $550 million to low-income farm families.

“This is another step toward improving the situation on our farms,” said Breitkreuz. “We are experiencing a horrible crisis in the agriculture industry, and there is no one-time payment or immediate solution that will end it. Announcements like this one, however, will provide some relief.”
Monday’s announcement, made by Federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl, is a new pilot program called the Canadian Farm Families Options Program. The Options Program will:

• help lower-income farm families explore options to raise their income for the future. Applicants must commit to use business planning and skills development programs.
• provide short-term income support to lower-income farm families. Eligible applicants will receive a payment that will bring them to a maximum income of $25,000 for families and $15,000 for individuals if they have a commercial farm.

Application forms are available on the Options Program website at: www.agr.gc.ca/options and will be accepted until October 31, 2006. Payments will be made to farmers this fall.

“The announcement reinforces this government’s commitment to agriculture,” said Breitkreuz. “The Options Program funding announcement follows previously announced programs including the Crop Cover Protection Program, the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative, and the Spring Credit Advance Program. These are all steps intended to assist Canadian producers.”

“We are entering into a very busy and critical time of year on the farm,” said Breitkreuz. “Although producers are facing time constraints as they prepare for harvest, I encourage them to file necessary applications and forms by the set deadlines to ensure they are able to reap the benefits of these funding announcements.”

Additional information on all agriculture-related programs and their respective deadlines can be obtained by visiting the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website at: www.agr.gc.ca.

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