ROSSENDALE, Man.-Fred Tait, Manitoba Coordinator of the National Farmers Union (NFU), announced today that Region 5 (Manitoba) of the NFU is involved in a project to develop recommendations that would improve the province's Agricultural Producers Organization Funding Act.

Tait advised that: "the work that the NFU is doing to try and improve the Act is in response to the continuing unpopularity of the existing legislation and the number of complaints we have received from farmers."

Tait also reported that the NFU has been studying how other provinces fund farm organizations and described the criterion that the NFU has adopted to improve the Manitoba Act:

• Negative-option funding is not acceptable
  
• Participation must be voluntary
  
• Participants would be given the option of funding the organization of their choice
  
• Any amendments must enhance the responsiveness of the participating farm organizations

In addition, the funding system must be user-friendly and meet basic democratic standards

Tait concluded, "The NFU would welcome suggestions directed at improving the Agricultural Producers Organization Funding Act. To offer suggestions or for more information contact:

For More Information:

• Fred Tait, Region 5 Coordinator: (204) 252-2773