For immediate release:
April 3, 2006

Barrett questions salary hikes during farm income crisis
Says we are paying more and getting less for agriculture

Queen’s Park—MPP Toby Barrett today asked the Minister of Agriculture why her Ministry is rapidly increasing government salaries, while its budget has been slashed by 21 per cent. 

“Last week you cut the Ag budget by 21 percent,” Barrett pointed out in the Legislature.  “This week, you’ve increased the Ag Ministry staff, the $100,000-a-year club by 11 per cent.”

 “Funding for grain and oil seeds is going down 52%,” Barrett continued.  “How many $100, 000 bureaucrats does it take to draw up a risk management program?”

On March 31, the government published its annual report on government employees earning over $100, 000 per year.  The Ministry of Agriculture saw an increase in high earners, coinciding with the farm income crisis and its budget being decreased by $244 million dollars.

“The Minister has taken this money from Ontario’s farmers, and given it directly to highly paid bureaucrats,” Barrett said after Question Period.  “This really is a ‘pay more get less’ budget.”

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