Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs minister Brian Coburn was slated to be in town today to meet with district ag groups before being guest speaker at tonight’s fundraiser dinner for the Kenora-Rainy River Ontario Progressive Conservative riding association.
The association is holding its annual general meeting from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Red Dog Inn, with the dinner to follow starting at 6:30.
Coburn was expected to discuss the federal government’s recent offer to extend the Market Revenue Insurance program for two years with district ag groups.
The program, designed to protect farmers from low commodity prices, pays producers when the average Ontario price for the current crop falls below 85 percent of the 15-year indexed average.
The federal government has offered to contribute $60 million-$70 million over the next two years to the program if the province kicks in another $32 million.
But Coburn said this extension won’t meet the needs of district farmers.
“The federal government appears to have misunderstood the needs of Ontario’s agriculture industry,” Coburn said in a press release issued yesterday.
“Our grain and oilseed producers have been buffeted by poor weather and depressed commodity prices for several years.
“We intend to continue discussions with our federal colleagues and with farmers to ensure that programs are designed to best meet the needs of Ontario’s agriculture industry,” Coburn pledged.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
