For
immediate release:
March 2, 2005
Barrett welcomes
7,000 farmers as Ag Minister leaves town
Queen’s Park –
A short 24 hours after having his farm loyalties questioned by Ontario
Agriculture Minister Steve Peters, MPP Toby Barrett let the evidence speak
for itself as he welcomed 7,000 farmers to Queens Park.
Barrett spent his morning outside
the Legislature talking to farmers who had converged on Queens Park for
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture ‘One Voice, One March’
rally.
After greeting PC leader John
Tory exiting one of the farm buses, and listening to speakers on the OFA
stage, Barrett headed into the Legislature to ask the Agriculture Minister
questions on behalf of the farmers – the Agriculture Minister however
had already grabbed a flight to Ottawa.
“My question was for
the Ag minister, who’s undoubtedly feeling some pressure today -
So to the Acting Premier: Your Ag minister yesterday questioned where
my loyalties lie.” Barrett began, “I’ve been outside
talking to farmers since eight this morning - my loyalties are to farmers,
to rural people. I don’t discriminate, I don’t judge what
they farm or what organization they belong to.”
“Your government has
to stop blaming others for your shortcomings. Your government has to stop
trying to divide and conquer,” said Barrett.
“While your Ag minister
was mudslinging yesterday, he neglected to answer questions from myself
and the member from Haliburton–Victoria–Brock,” Barrett
continued. “Acting Premier, will you stand in your place today—we’ve
had thousands of farmers here—and commit the $300 million for cash
crop farmers?”
The Environment Minister, Leona
Dombrowsky – who was standing in as Acting Premier – answered
that the Minister and Premier are continuing to dialogue with agriculture
as they, “want to understand directly from these representative
groups what we can do, exactly the very best way we can move forward the
kind of support that they need.”
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For more information please contact
MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446,
416-325-8404 or 1-800-903-8629
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