For immediate release:

October 12, 2005

Throne Speech snubs rural Ontario 

New session, same old story from urban-dominated Liberal regime

PC Agriculture Critic Toby Barrett says after two years of McGuinty rule, the lack of recognition of Ontario agriculture is nothing new.

“After a reign of disappointments for Ontario farmers ,the Liberal government has had three distinct opportunities to take significant steps toward fulfilling their promise to make OMAFRA a lead Ministry - at the Plowing Match, the Outdoor Farm Show, and today’s Throne Speech,” attested Barrett. “Yet they have continued to drop the ball.”
                                          
Barrett also pointed out that the government paid little more than lip service to the recent Ontario Agriculture Week. The disregard has prompted the Opposition Agriculture Critic to circulate a petition calling on the Ontario Legislature to declare the Saturday before Thanksgiving as “Farmers Feed Cities” Day – referencing a campaign launched by farmers. Those interested can contact Barrett’s Simcoe or Queens Park offices for more information.

Meantime, Barrett says he will continue to hold the government to account for farmers as Estimates Committee deliberations head into next week. Both Opposition parties are questioning how a drop in spending from $733 million last year to $564 million this year could be hailed as a budget increase by Minister Dombrowsky and the McGuinty government.

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