For immediate release:
November 17, 2005

Barrett / Hudak call out Minister on corn tariffs and Casco

Queen’s Park – PC Agriculture Critic Toby Barrett says trying to figure out where the McGuinty Government stands on corn tariffs is like trying to nail jello to the wall.

Barrett commented after questioning Minister of Agriculture Leona Dombrowsky in the Legislature yesterday:

“The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has indicated that the subsidization and dumping of US corn has caused injury to our domestic industry,” Barrett began. “You knew a decision was coming - you know the possible impacts. I raised this with you five weeks ago.

“Two questions: Where do you stand on the possibility of tariffs on US corn? Secondly, what action steps have you taken with all sectors involved to find solutions?”

In response, the Ag. Minister stopped well short of the Premier’s September assertion that, “I think we need to sharpen our elbows a little bit” in regards the corn producers bid to introduce tariffs due to alleged U.S. “dumping” of corn on the Canadian market.

“It's something we have been paying very close attention to, but as you would appreciate, because it is a quasi-judicial process, it's not anything this government can become involved in directly,” said Dombrowsky.

MPP Hudak took up the line of questioning next.

“The lack of an effective support plan in Ontario for our corn producers puts them in a very difficult situation, and then countervailing duties may result in the closure of Casco, including Casco in Port Colborne, a major provider,” Hudak stated. “Minister, we need immediate leadership. Will you develop an effective support plan to ensure that our corn producers prosper and to keep plants like Casco viable?”

The Minister seemed to have a change of heart in responding with a, “commitment that I'm very prepared to go with them to the federal government to develop a plan that's going to assist them to deal with these issues for both the short term and the long term.”

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