NEWS RELEASE

September 20, 2000                                                                                                             For Immediate Release

AIDA PROGRAM SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY BUT ACCOMPLISHING LITTLE

"Only 9% of Saskatchewan farmer's AIDA applications have been processed"

Ottawa - "The AIDA program is on fire. It's so hot that millions of taxpayers dollars are burning up while farmers sweat it out as they wait and see if they will get any assistance." Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton - Melville and Agriculture Critic made those comments after learning about the slow processing rate and administrative costs of the AIDA program. "Many producers were told it would take a maximum of 60 days to have their application processed and a cheque issued. Instead it has been months and only a tiny portion of the applications have been dealt with. The lack of progress is unacceptable," declared Breitkreuz.

Only 9% of Saskatchewan AIDA applications have been processed to this point. Applications were first available in April. In four months, they have processed only 1,429 applications. At this rate, it will take another 40 months to process the applications they already have, and more applications are expected before the September 29, 2000 deadline.

Provinces

# of Claims Received

# of Claims Processed

% of Claims Processed

# of Claims Paid

Total Value of Payments

Average Value of Payments

Saskatchewan

15,839

1,429

9%

1,095

$13,222,417

$12,075

Manitoba

5,602

341

6%

242

$4,076,602

$16,845

Alberta

3,412

1,160

34%

963

$27,688,065

$28,752

British Columbia

594

102

17%

80

$2,125,944

$26,574

Ontario

2,590

872

34%

820

$19,700,000

$24,024

Quebec

42

6

14%

6

$54,186

$9,031

Newfoundland

32

4

13%

4

$7,131

$1,783

PEI

328

238

73%

163

$3,720,910

$22,828

New Brunswick

38

0

0%

0

$0

$0

Nova Scotia

100

9

9%

7

$269,114

$38,445

Totals

28,577

4161

15%

3,380

$70,864,369

$20,966

(Source: NISA Administration Statistical Analysis Group - Data is effective Sept 3, 2000)

According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the administrative costs for the AIDA program from Dec 1, 98 to June 30, 2000 was $28.6 million or an average $700 per processed application. "With those types of administrative costs producers should not have to wait four or five months to have their application processed. It appears the AIDA administration has the financial resources to do a proper job, so why all the delays?" questioned Breitkreuz.

"I wonder if the government understands how important it is that these funds get to the farmers who need them? This year's bills are going to be due next month and producers who were expecting support from AIDA will now have to put off their creditors for a little while longer. I urge the Minister of Agriculture to take action and get the AIDA program operating efficiently. Until he does farmers will continue to suffer," stated Breitkreuz.

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For more information please call:

Yorkton: 1-800-667-6606

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394

E-mail: breitg2@sk.sympatico.ca

Web Site: www.garrybreitkreuz.com