For immediate release:
Aug 9, 2005

Area Landowners consider the RURAL REVOLUTION

Simcoe – Don’t give up!

That’s the message from Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett as rural landowners gather in Courtland this evening for the inaugural meeting of the Norfolk-Oxford-Elgin Landowners Association.

Barrett says that despite the uphill battle to get the McGuinty government to wake up to rural issues, farmers, and other landowners, must continue to bang the drum if they are to be heard.

“The successes of last winter – and those to come this winter – are found in the planning we do today,” Barrett said. “As landowners we have problems and we must work together to ensure they are not at Queens Park.”

This past winter saw landowner associations and other concerned rural citizens from across Ontario join forces to shut down major highways and converge on Queens Park.

Barrett says the ongoing rural and farm protests underline the crises being felt in small town and rural Ontario.

“I have no doubt we are facing another ‘winter of discontent’ in rural Ontario, and whether it be intrusive landowner restrictions, or a need for help for one commodity or another, a common response prevails,” said Barrett. “There are many rural problems, many rural organizations and many rural voices - these voices are all sending a common message.”

The inaugural meeting of the Norfolk-Oxford-Elgin Landowners Association will take place this evening at 8-pm at the Courtland Community Centre.

-30-
For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 416-325-8404 or 1-800-903-8629