Canadian Agricultural Income
Stabilization program now in place
The new Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program is in
place across Canada. With this highly dependable and predictable program, producers now have protection from both small and large declines in farm margins. CAIS offers protection, even in disaster situations.
CAIS replaces the previous Net Income Stabilization Accounts (NISA) and the Canadian Farm Income Program (CFIP).
Program payments are shared between producers and government. When producers trigger withdrawals as a result of declines in farm income, they receive funds from their own program deposits and from government contributions.
The program targets government funds to the deepest losses: the larger the decline in farm income, the greater the proportion of the payment that will come from government.
To get access to CAIS protection, producers need to select their desired level of protection and make a deposit in a CAIS account at a participating financial institution. The size of a producer's deposit depends on the selected level of protection.
The deposit is not a payment to government. It belongs at all times to the producer, as does the interest that accrues, and it remains on deposit from year to year until it is used.
In British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the deadline for producers to select their level of protection has been extended to April 30, 2004, and the deadline for making the accompanying deposit has been extended to December 31, 2004. These deadlines apply to the 2003 and 2004 program years. Producers in other provinces should contact their provincial delivery agent for information on program deadlines.
All funds remaining in NISA accounts, including producer deposits and government contributions, belong to producers, and are available for withdrawal now.
For more information on the Cull Animal
Program, producers should contact their
provincial delivery agent:
- In British Columbia, call toll-free
1 877 702 - 5585, or visit the Web site at www.agf.gov.bc.ca./ahc/bse/
- In Alberta, call toll-free 1 866 314-2054, or visit the Web site at www1.agric.gov.ab.ca
- In Saskatchewan, call toll-free 1 866 621-3224, or visit the Web site at www.agr.gov.sk.ca
- In Manitoba, contact the local Manitoba Crop Insurance Agency office, or visit the Web site at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture
- In Ontario, visit the Web site at www.omaf.gov.on.ca
- In Quebec, call toll-free 1 800 749-3646, or visit the Web site of La Financière agricole at www.financiereagricole.qc.ca
- In New Brunswick, contact the local New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture Regional Office, or visit the Web site at www.gnb.ca/0027/Index-e.asp
- In Nova Scotia, call (902) 893-6510 or toll-free 1 866 844-4276, or visit the Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/prm/programs/ nsrca.htm
- In Prince Edward Island, call (902) 368-5609 or toll-free 1 866 734-3276 (ext. 5609), or visit the Web site at www.gov.pe.ca/af/agweb
- In Newfoundland and Labrador, call (709) 637-2572, or visit the Web site at www.gov.nf.ca/agric
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