Those without ID numbers are not eligible for kill compensation
MANITOULIN—Two years into the revamped Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program and some farmers have still not registered, Assiginack council learned last week.
At the last meeting of Assiginack council, clerk Alton Hobbs brought forward an issue with members of council regarding a wildlife compensation claim that was turned down due to the farm not being registered. The clerk questioned whether the municipality should pay the compensation regardless of the denial, then work out the details later.
Councillor Bob Case gave an emphatic “no,” stating that farmers have had two years to register their farms with Agricorp (1-866-327-3678) and receive a farm business registration number as well as call for their premises identification number (by calling 1-855-697-7743) through a ministry vendor.
“There is no cost to getting these numbers,” Councillor Case continued. “The onus is on you.”
Brian Bell, Manitoulin Island ag rep with the Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, explained that Councillor Case was correct in that in order to receive wildlife damage compensation, farms must be a registered farm business, meaning that farmers must be able to show that they have a gross farm income of $7,000 or more (for income tax purposes). Without this, farmers will not receive compensation from livestock kills.
Once registered with Agricorp, the farmer must choose one of the three accredited farm organizations—National Farmers Union, Ontario Federations of Agriculture or Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario—to belong to and to pay relevant membership fees, which acts as the organizations’ stable funding.
There are exemptions for joining the groups, however, such as religious exemption from the Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal or a confirmation letter provided by the Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario.
Claims must me made to the municipality within 48 hours of an animal’s injury or death whereby the municipality’s valuer will make an investigation within three days.
