These changes would equip agristability to better respond to farmers' needs, especially in terms of helping them respond more effectively and efficiently to market price cycles. According to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, these changes would represent an annual investment of $330 million in Canada's farming operations.
Bear in mind that, on behalf of farmers, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture was calling for risk management measures under the agriflexibility program. The original version of the agriflexibility program would have provided producers with customized assistance specific to their sector and region, factors that cannot be taken into account under national programs, which are applicable from coast to coast. For example, agriflexibility could have helped fund risk management programs such as Quebec's farm income stabilization insurance program and Ontario's risk management program. There is now talk in western Canada of an agristability plus program, an idea put forward by producers in Manitoba. Unfortunately, the current agriflexibility program does not address all the needs that were originally identified because it is not based on risk management and because it is underfunded.
Producers greatly appreciate the agriinsurance program. Under this Canadian crop insurance program, producers benefit in terms of agricultural planning and risk management strategies. Over the past half-century, this initiative has evolved into a predictable, needs-based program. Producers are especially grateful for the program during years when mother nature is not so cooperative. It is the envy of producers in the cattle and poultry sectors. Although these industries are not as susceptible to yield fluctuations, they have long been calling for an insurance program modelled on the crop insurance program to help in those rare but devastating cases of livestock loss due to death. Such losses often occur when a known or unknown disease suddenly destroys a barn, a herd or an entire farming operation. For years, this has been a topic of debate, and the time has come to put forward tangible solutions in terms of equipping the cattle and poultry sectors with a tailored production insurance program that is effective and efficient.
While risk management programs are of course necessary, there is no doubt that, in the long term, the Canadian government will need to pursue research efforts that genuinely address producers' needs. Personally, I am a wheat farmer in Quebec. Although our wheat varieties did improve in the 1990s, our yield did not. In my view, if producers are going to be competitive over the long run, the government will need to either invest heavily in research or foster an environment that encourages companies to invest in genetics.
Thank you.