CONSERVATIVE PRESSURE EXTENDS CAIS DEADLINE

OTTAWA - Conservative Agriculture and Agri-food critic Diane Finley today expressed relief that Conservative party pressure has finally forced the Liberals to extend the September 30, 2005 Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program application date.

However, Finley was critical of Minister Andy Mitchell for setting such an early CAIS deadline in the first place.

“Who in their right mind would expect producers to fill out CAIS forms in the middle of harvest season? The original deadline was not only insulting and insensitive, but it once again showed this government’s ignorance of even basic agricultural knowledge,” said Finley.

The Liberal government originally set September 30 as the deadline for filling out and sending CAIS application forms. Finley said this deadline was ridiculous given that most producers spend September harvesting crops and do not have the time required to fill out forms.

“In some cases this extension is too late, because many producers have already spent too much time with their accountants instead of out in the fields,” said Finley. “You really have to wonder if anyone in the Minister's office is looking out for farmers.”

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