'This program is no ASRA'

Monday, October 3, 2011

Kevin Grier, a senior analyst at the George Morris Centre, says the new Business Risk Management program is a poor substitute for Ontario's dream of a support program like Quebec has in Assurance stabilisation des revenus agricoles (ASRA). It's not even "ASRA-lite."

"Ontario farm organizations have spread lavish praise over the program. They have a stake in making it look as good as possible, given the time and effort they put lobbying for it," Grier wrote in the July 15 issue of Canadian Pork Market Review.

"Unlike a real insurance program, however, Premiums are waived for the program's 2011 transition year. Even better, there is going to be a payout to livestock producers this fall, just in time for the provincial election.

"For example, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario posted a blog on July 8 saying that the 'announcement of a Risk Management Program is arguably one of the most significant accomplishments for Ontario's agricultural groups in a long time,' Grier writes. "The next step is to see whether the average farmer agrees with this assessment and chooses to support the new program by enrolling in it." BP