The federal government has pledged over $5 million to support farm safety outreach through the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA).
The funding announcement Thursday at CASA’s annual meeting in Fredericton confirms Ottawa’s continued support for the association through the federal/provincial Growing Forward ag policy framework.
The funding is expected to go toward creation of safety exhibits, web resources and training material to help farmers spot and remedy hazards, the government said in a release.
The money will also go to support CASA’s Progressive Agricultural Safety Days, day-long events held across Canada to increase rural youth’s awareness of the hazards on the farm and in a rural environment. CASA plans to co-ordinate 75 Ag Safety Days in 2010.
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“CASA’s network of farm safety groups, researchers and producers is pleased to partner with the government in leading development and delivery of national farm safety programs aimed at increasing the safety of those who live and work in Canadian agriculture,” said CASA chairman Bruce Johnson, the executive director of the Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association in B.C., in the government’s release.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s grant to CASA is its main source of revenue. Its one-year, $1.284 million grant for 2009 formed about 97 per cent of its income, which also includes membership and conference fees, donations and investment revenue.
CASA noted in its 2008-09 annual report that it’s “economically dependent” on continued funding received from AAFC.
Before Thursday’s funding announcement, CASA had picked up a one-year extension on its previous funding agreement, which saw the association through to the end of March.
The Winnipeg-based association had said in its report in April that the funding agreement’s “continuation subsequent to this date is uncertain.”
