August 24, 2005
For Immediate Release

Barrett back to rural roots as Agriculture Critic

Port Dover – After two years of holding the government to account on the environment front MPP Toby Barrett is grabbing the reins as Official Opposition Critic for Agriculture and Food.

“I’m chomping at the bit to start,” the Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP said. “I will be interested to see if newly-named Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky will do anything to change this government’s disconnect with farmers.”

A ten year veteran of Queen’s Park, Toby Barrett has served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Agriculture and Food, before assuming his past position as PC Environment Critic in 2003.

After earning his M Sc. at the Ontario Agricultural College graduate, Barrett taught Agriculture and Environmental Science at the high school level. Barrett currently resides on the family farm with his wife Cari.

“There are so many areas where government support and action on agriculture must improve if our farm families and rural areas are to survive,” Barrett said. “Commodity prices remain low, our beef producers are still reeling from the impact of BSE, and farms across the province continue to face ever-increasing regulations without individual rights to their own property.”

As an Opposition Critic, Barrett will be responsible for researching and critiquing legislation and programs as well as offering alternatives on behalf of Ontarians.

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For more information contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519)-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629