Menzies Reminds Farm Families to Apply for Options Program

October 16, 2006

OTTAWA – Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation and MP for Macleod, is reminding farm families to apply for the Canadian Farm Families Options program. Deadline for applications is October 31st.

“The New Government is committed to keeping farm families and rural communities strong,” said Mr. Menzies. “In Macleod and across Canada, the Options program is strengthening our farming sector by providing income support, business assessment and skills development to low-income farm families.”

The Canadian Farm Families Options Program:

• Provides immediate short-term income support to low income farm families. Eligible applicants receive a payment based on their 2005 income tax return that brings them up to a maximum income of $25,000 for families and $15,000 for individuals if they have a commercial farm.
• Helps low income farm families explore options to raise their on or off-farm income for the future. Applicants must commit to use business assessment or skills development programs.
  

As of October 8th, almost 5,000 applications for the Options program have been received and over $30 million has been distributed to producers, with an average payment of $10,580.

Applicants must be actively farming in 2006. Applications forms are available on the Options program website (www.agr.gc.ca/options). Applicants may download or print a PDF version of the form and guide or call 1-866-367-8506 to receive a form by mail.

Options is a pilot program, with a federal commitment of $550 million.

For further information, please contact:
The office of Ted Menzies at (613) 995-847