For Immediate Release
December 14, 2005

Barrett to farmers: You can hang alone, or you can hang together
Barrett rolls with rural rally on the 401

Highway 401 (Sweaburg exit) – MPP Toby Barrett today joined 200 tractors and 100 pick-up trucks for a one hour blockade of the 401 stretching from Ingersoll to the Sweaburg exit.

In a hayfield rally following the blockade,  a slue of tractors gathered round as Barrett addressed all assembled within the large crowd.

“As I travel the province commodities are either in a full blown crisis or - as we now know with supply management – on the verge of a crisis,” said Barrett. “However, when we as citizens ask for government assistance we get answers like – ‘you’re just crybabies’ or ‘you’ll just spend it on popcorn and beer’”

Barrett stressed to the crowd that government works for “you”,  not the other way around – “and right now at the federal level they want your votes.”

“Just bear in mind you can hang alone or you can hang together,” Barrett advised.

The Woodstock area rally was part of a cross-Ontario rural protest involving a separate blockade at the 401 in Wallaceburg, a Landowners blockade near Belleville, and another in Ottawa.

In addition to thanking John Van Daele and the organizers on behalf of all present, Barrett concluded by leading a hearty show of appreciation for the assistance and co-operation of the Ontario Provincial Police.

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