The 2023 Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance program excludes many parts of the province that were impacted by drought in 2023
Applications are now open for the 2023 Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance (CADLA) program, which is intended to provide financial relief to livestock producers impacted by the drought that occurred in much of the province in 2023.
Despite the widespread nature of drought impacts, support funding is only available to producers located within municipalities that reached a level of D2 (reflective of a one-in-ten-year drought) or worse on the Canadian Drought Monitor Map. The RMA has heard from several municipalities not included in the CADLA eligibility zone that have producers significantly impacted by drought conditions but unable to access CADLA funding.
The RMA has discussed this issue with the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, who has indicated that the Government of Canada made funding contingent on the CADLA not being available provincewide, despite the Government of Alberta’s preferences. The RMA believes that an approach similar to that taken during the 2021 drought, in which all geographic areas were eligible but individual eligibility was based on proof of drought impacts, would be more inclusive and ensure those that were impacted received support.
The RMA is working with the Government of Alberta to access more information related to the impacts of drought, especially in non-eligible areas. The RMA is also advocating directly to the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada staff for an expansion of CADLA eligibility to all areas of the province. The RMA will provide members with updates if any changes are made to the program.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
825.319.2245
kallie@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com