For immediate release:
March 1, 2006

Barrett corners Minister of Agriculture over funding
Asks why province is dragging its feet over cash crop support

Queen’s Park— “The Ontario farm protests are only growing in frequency as this government continues to turn a blind eye.”- Barrett

MPP Toby Barrett told the Legislature this afternoon that the provincial government is stalling on support for cash crops, even after the federal government accelerated payments to farmers.

“I’ve been asking questions for the past five months for action from this government,” Barrett told a raucous Legislature.  “Even last week, we continue to hear the blame game from the Minister of Agriculture.”

During a question last week in the Legislature, Minister Dombrowsky told Barrett that the Ontario government was waiting for the federal government to make the first move on the cash crop crisis.

“Well, farmers are telling us that they’re swiftly receiving the federal cheques,” Barrett informed the Minister.  “The question is, where is the Ontario government?”

“The grain and oilseeds deadline is real,” Barrett said in the House.  “Farmers feed cities, farmers require action- farmers require action now.”

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