Queen’s Park – After completing over a month of pre-budget consultations, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is still shaking his head at the lack of support for farmers from the McGuinty government.
“Not only has this government turned it’s back on our area tobacco farmers, the Finance Committee pre-budget consultation makes it clear the McGuinty Liberals are intent on ignoring all Ontario farmers,” levelled Barrett. “Again and again PC’s attempted to introduce amendments to support our farmers in the Finance Committee pre-budget report - we were met by a wall of government indifference at every turn.”
Barrett and his PC colleagues introduced a number of motions during the final day of pre-budget meetings to support Ontario farmers including:
“…. the standing committee on finance and economic affairs recommends that the Minister of Finance continue to provide financial assistance in the form of a quarterly payment program to cattle farmers, based on the number of animals marketed in the quarter and on market prices realized.”; and
“that the standing committee on finance and economic affairs recommends that the Minister of Finance extend the self-directed risk management program until such time as fruit and vegetable growers have access to affordable production insurance covering all of Ontario's fruit and vegetable crops.”
In each case the Conservative initiatives were voted down by the Government majority on the Finance Committee.
“I continue to question why this government would choose to ignore the very sector that serves as the backbone of our provincial economy,” Barrett charged. “As economic signs south of the border and provincially begin to show indications of downturn, it is all that more important to ensure the stability of our agriculture sector.”
Barrett says he looks forward to joining with PC Leader John Tory, and Agriculture Critic Ernie Hardeman in awakening the McGuinty regime to the rural realities of Ontario and the related need to support struggling farmers.
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For more information please call
MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629 |
