When the program cuts were put in place...we're now at a position where we're actually at 70% of 70%. These reference margin limits were introduced by the government purely as a cost-saving measure from a budgetary perspective. That goes to the root of one of the key issues that rendered this program ineffective for farmers. APAS, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, has done a deep dive into what it would take for their farmers to see a payout from AgriStability, and because of the reference margin limits that were put in place, it is far below the cost of production. How is that program effective in helping guarantee and mitigate risk when, as everybody is saying, the payout is simply not worth the paperwork? These cost-saving measures get to the root of the issue.
On March 10th, 2020. See this statement in context.