British Columbia has confirmed its plans to self-administer the federal/provincial AgriStability farm income stabilization program for B.C. farmers.
B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (BCMAL) is to deliver AgriStability for B.C. farmers starting with the 2009 program year, including 2009 interim AgriStability applications received after Dec. 31, 2009, the provincial and federal governments said in a release Friday.
All interim applications submitted after Dec. 31, 2009 should also be sent to the AgriStability administration in B.C.
The federal AgriStability administration in Winnipeg, meanwhile, will handle B.C. files for the 2008 and prior program years, including any 2009 interim applications submitted before Dec. 31, 2009.
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“By bringing administration of this program to B.C. we are able to draw on our staff’s understanding of specific challenges and conditions that are unique to our agriculture sector,” provincial Agriculture Minister Steve Thomson said Friday.
“The difference between commodity sectors combined with diverse landscapes and economic conditions across the country, make this shift to local business risk management a positive change.”
According to the province, BCMAL program experts are to work out of four regional offices:
- Abbotsford, handling the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island;
- Oliver, serving the South Okanagan, Similkameen and Kootenay regions;
- Kelowna, serving the Thompson Valley, Nicola Valley, North Okanagan and Cariboo; and
- Fort St. John, handling all regions north of Prince George including Highway 16.
Regional representatives “are knowledgeable about the province’s agriculture sectors and the AgriStability program,” the province said, and will handle producers’ questions in person or over the phone.
The transfer, which is expected to bring a total of 25 jobs to B.C., is described in Friday’s release as “another commitment met under Canada’s Economic Action Plan.” The federal economic plan calls for the transfer of AgriStability administration to any interested province.
Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and, as of Jan. 1, Saskatchewan already deliver the program provincially, while other provinces’ farmers deal with federal AgriStability staff in Winnipeg.
The provincial AgriStability administration in B.C. can be reached toll-free at 877-343-2767, while the federal administration, if need be, can be contacted at 866-367-8506.
