For immediate release:

October 11, 2005

Agriculture week - what agriculture week?

Ontario Government pays lip service - and little else - to Ontario farmers

The week previous to Thanksgiving was designated through a 1998 Private Members Bill introduced by former PC MPP Bert Johnson (Perth) to “provide special recognition for the contribution of Ontario’s farmers to our society by proclaiming the week commencing on the Monday immediately before Thanksgiving Day in each year as Ontario Agriculture Week.”

The only recognition farmers received last week came in a brief OMAF news release announcing the week with one sentence to describe the contributions of Ontario agriculture.

“Along with the disappointments at the Plowing Match and the Outdoor Farm Show, farmers have to be scratching their heads at the lacklustre recognition they are receiving from this government,” said Barrett. “As well, the McGuinty Liberals have dropped the ball by missing the opportunity to announce real support for our farmers.”

While the news release did urge Ontarians to buy locally, Barrett says its time government put its money where its mouth is.

“Of course we want Ontarians buying Ontario products, but the truth is if government continues to ignore the plight of farmers, there will be significantly less of that Ontario product to choose from,” Barrett pointed out. “We need more than meager Foodland Ontario re-announcements – it’s time this government worked alongside farmers to build a stronger agriculture sector.”

Barrett 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