Helping Ontario farmers affected by wildlife and weather succeed

The Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program has been updated after extensive consultation with farmers and farming industry leaders. To help farmers access compensation when they lose livestock to predators, changes to the federal/provincial program include:

• more ways to provide sufficient evidence to prove wildlife predation;
• a more independent and transparent appeal process;
• better training for municipal investigators to assess predation; and,
• compensation that better reflects market prices.

“Helping Ontario farmers manage the impacts of livestock losses, by reducing their burden and saving them time, will allow them to focus on rebuilding their herds and farms,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, our Government is helping producers across Ontario and the country respond to challenges and keep their farming operations strong.”

In addition, to help farmers affected by abnormally high levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON) in this year’s corn crop, the Ontario government is making changes to the Commodity Loan Guarantee Program (CLGP):

• The repayment deadline is being extended from February 28 to September 30 for the 2018 and 2019 program years, on a pilot basis.
• The government is increasing the maximum guaranteed loan limit under the CLGP from $120 million to $200 million for the 2019 and 2020 program years, on a pilot basis.

“With these changes, our government is addressing farmers’ concerns and helping them deal with losses beyond their control,” said Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman. “Reducing unnecessary red tape and providing farmers with the tools they need to stay in business is one of the ways we are supporting those who feed our province.”

There is commitment at both levels of government to improve the usability of regulatory processes for farmers, while maintaining standards to keep Ontarians safe and healthy.

These program updates will provide greater clarity for farm business owners when applying for compensation under the wildlife program, and more flexibility to repay loans under the loan guarantee program – saving time, reducing burden and relieving stress so farmers can focus on growing their businesses.