The Manitoba government is welcoming and on board with changes to the AgriStability program announced by the new federal agriculture minister on the eve of the federal election campaign.
On Saturday, Kody Blois announced an increase to the AgriStability compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent, as well as a doubling of the payment cap to $6 million for the 2025 program year, aimed at offsetting farmers’ lost income due to tariffs.
The federal minister also said the government was willing to offer larger interim payments to get more funds to farmers earlier than the typical AgriStability timeline.
AgriStability has historically been funded on a 60/40 basis between the federal and provincial/territorial governments, with any changes requiring approval from most of the FPT ministers.
It appears the funding to make the changes announced by Blois was rubber stamped by the federal cabinet prior to the government moving into caretaker mode for the election, but it is still not clear where all the provinces and territories stand on the measures.
As of Tuesday, Manitoba is the only province to have publicly expressed intent to sign on to the changes and fund its 40 per cent portion, if given the opportunity.
“We’re very supportive,” says Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn, in the interview below, speaking from his office at the provincial legislature on Tuesday morning.
He says his team is in the process of working out how and when the changes could be formalized, acknowledging it will likely only be after the election.
“Pending what the outcome is of the federal election, we could probably reconnect and have a conversation on moving forward,” says Kostyshyn.
The Manitoba government earmarked up to $100 million in its provincial budget last week to help farmers affected by tariffs, if needed.
As of Tuesday afternoon, ag ministers and ministries in other provinces have not yet provided on-the-record responses when asked whether they support and intend to sign on to the AgriStability changes proposed by Blois.
Watch/listen to Manitoba Ag Minister Ron Kostyshyn discuss the uncertainty around tariffs from China and the U.S., the proposed changes to AgriStability, and what he’s hoping gets discussed during the federal election campaign:
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