Ontario beekeepers are not happy with the provincial government's financial assistance for damaged hives, calling it everything from inadequate to an insult.

The province announced this week one-time compensation for beekeepers with 10 or more hives that stand to lose 40 per cent or more of their colonies' population this year. There are a number of conditions for receiving the funding, which offers $105 per hive to beekeepers who qualify.

One insider said it is an ineffectual measure that will not help rebuild colonies in the province, while the president of the Ontario Beekeepers' Association said he hopes it is only a first step toward addressing a problem that is getting worse each year.

"I think it's a slap in the face," said David Schuit, owner of Saugeen Country Honey. "That's like me taking 40 per cent of your income away and saying after that we'll help you out. It's like going to a dairy farmer or pig farmer and saying with 40 per cent of your herd gone, we'll now give you $105 for each of your cows or pigs that died."

Schuit said buying and populating a hive costs about $350, so the compensation is just one-third of the value. It is hardly enough to rejuvenate bee populations.

"It's not going to help at all," he said.

Dan Davidson is the president of Ontario Beekeepers' Association.

"It's a little bit inadequate for what's going on," he said, speaking of the compensation. "We do appreciate that it is only a first step to finding a more permanent solution to this problem that we're having. We think the government that is in now is committed to us."

The $105 per hive funding is partly intended to address bee die-off from the harsh winter. Bee populations are expected to sustain higher than normal mortality rates as a result.

Davidson said there have been significant losses over the winter and those losses are expected to continue through the spring and summer, as bees are hit with the impacts of the planting season and the pesticides used on crops.

"It is a problem and it seems to be getting worse," Davidson said.

Schuit said the funding is a waste of public funds, since it does nothing to address the issue of what is actually killing bees.

Honey bee populations have been in steep decline in Ontario, and many in the industry, including Schuit, suspect highly toxic neonicotinoid pesticides are behind it.

"If they would ban the neonicotinoids and didn't give us any funding, we would survive," Schuit said.

A Ministry of Agriculture and Food news release Thursday states registered beekeepers represent more than 90 per cent of all hives in the province. The government is also exploring a bee mortality insurance program.

To qualify for the funding, beekeepers must be registered with the Provincial Apiarist in 2014, must have proof of a 40 per cent or more loss in bee hive inventory, have both an Agricorp and premises identification number and must sign an attestation that proper beekeeping practices were followed.

Kathleen Wynne, premier and minister of Agriculture and Food, stated in a news release the government recognizes "the critical role pollinators and beekeepers play in maintaining a healthy environment and productive agri-food sector."

Source - http://www.orangeville.com/