For immediate release:
March 28, 2006

Barrett to Finance Minister: Why Ag Cuts?
 Dwight Duncan does a double-duck

Queen’s Park—MPP Toby Barrett questioned Finance Minister Dwight Duncan about the deep cuts to agriculture spending today at the Legislature.

“You were at the Whitby-Ajax by-election this morning trying to peddle your budget for a few votes,” Barrett accused the Minister of Finance.  “How did you explain your 21% cut to the farmers at the Whitby Curling club this morning?”

Despite asking the Minister of Finance, the Minister referred the question to the Minister of Agriculture who denied that budget cuts even exist.

“Minister of Finance, you were with cash crop farmers this morning at the Whitby Curling Club,” Barrett continued.  “You’ve reduced their particular amount of support by 52%.  Your government has turned your back on those corn and soybean farmers that you were speaking with this morning.”

Again, the Minister wouldn’t answer, and redirected the question to the Minister of Agriculture who repeated the government rhetoric that funding was not cut.

“Rather than answering legitimate questions from farmers, the Liberal caucus chose to yell and scream in the Legislature,” Barrett said after Question Period.  “Farmers desperately need this government support- not insults and neglect.”

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