I'm hopeful we can separate out a new program that will be margin-based, but the components of it are going to be completely different from what we had in 2003 when it started. Some of the folks here were around the table in 2003 when this was coming.
The quick list of a better margin-based program is as follows: more accurate assessment of losses; better protection coverage, including negative margin coverage; lower cost to participate; faster payments when there's a disaster; interim payments within 30 days; a simpler sign-up; less paper work, and we're moving toward a one-page application for a margin-based program, instead of the huge thing that was there to begin with; clearer, shorter forms; more flexible deadlines, so that farmers can participate in it; online calculators to estimate payments, so that farmers aren't guessing but can know with some certainty what they're going to get; more efficiency through e-filing and common filing in that manner; national standards for application processing, so that when they get their information they know they're going to get a cheque within a certain period of time; and more detailed statements, because another common concern you hear is, “I get the statement. I have no idea how I got this much money. I thought I was going to get $10,000.” Sometimes they might get $20,000; sometimes they get nothing. And then half the time it's clawed back later. It just is not predictable enough.
By separating out the disaster component and addressing these other things, including negative margin coverage, better inventory evaluation, being more predictable and bankable, and having a shorter response time, better advance periods—all those things—I'm hoping we can work with the provinces to devise a better program.
But the common cry from the provinces is affordability. They're happy if we'll spend lots more money, but the common cry is that they don't have any more themselves.