Sask. premier responds to Ag Producers concerns about crop insurance surplus
Saskatchewan’s premier thinks the group that represents local farmers should have reached out before it started criticizing remarks made by the finance minister.
Last week, a war of words was waged between the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and the government regarding the provincial deficit and crop insurance payments.
“I think we have a couple ministers who were to some degree caught off guard, that there was a letter put out without a prior phone call with respect to some pretty you know direct criticism,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said.
APAS said it is concerned about the province’s claim that Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) payments “caused the provincial deficit in 2021,” in a news release Wednesday. The comments follow the government’s mid-year fiscal update, where the province said the deficit is higher than was forecast at budget, despite mid-year revenue growth.
It started a flurry of letters betters between APAS and the government.
Minister of Agriculture David Marit and Minister of Finance Donna Harpaur responded to APAS’ claims in a letter addressed to president Todd Lewis on Wednesday afternoon, calling the suggestion that the province blamed producers for the deficit “false” and “offensive.”
“The comments provided by Vice-President Ian Boxall suggest that perhaps he is unfamiliar with the concept of summary financial reporting, a budgeting standard that the province adopted in 2014,” the letter from the government reads.
Harpauer said while delivering the province’s fiscal update last week, that Saskatchewan would have seen a significant improvement from budget and a much lower deficit had it not been for support needed for producers as a result of the drought.
The provincial budget will record an additional $1.8 billion in crop insurance claims and $292.5 million in assistance to cattle producers. The crop insurance money came from premiums paid by farmers. APAS said it’s not fair to blame producers for a deficit in a drought year.
“Producers are concerned that the general public has a perception that farmers are receiving a break or a bailout when they receive a crop insurance cheque,” the latest letter from Todd Lewis, APAS president, said.
The money comes from a fund cost-shared by producers, the federal and provincial governments.
The government stands by its remarks.
“If we could disregard, not just set aside the support that is required to be paid out to producers because of the support program that we have in place, Saskatchewan would be very close actually to being in a balanced budget situation this year,” Moe explained
APAS and the government both agree that their goal is to work in the best interest of farmers. APAS says it didn’t mean to offend anyone and the two sides are engaging in private discussions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.