Abbotsford South MLA, Bruce Banman believes the provincial government needs to improve its compensation process for local farmers impacted by last year's floods.

“When I talk to a lot of the farmers what I'm hearing is that it is taking way too long to get the final approval that is required to actually get a cheque.” Beyond the wait, Banman also says compensation doesn’t match what farmers were expecting. “What they thought they were promised and what they’re actually getting is different.”

Banman further laments that there is too much paperwork, and the application process itself is onerous. Farmers have to submit them on their own without government assistance on the applications for compensation and are denied immediately if done incorrectly.

Banman says that rather than denying farmers and making them start the entire process over again because they have not initially filled out the paperwork correctly, officials should be permitted to assist farmers through the process if necessary. “I know people who, it’s coming up to the year anniversary, and they haven’t received a penny.”

To hear all of Banman’s thoughts, listen to the full interview here: