For immediate release:
March 7, 2005

Pay heed to RURAL REVOLUTION: Barrett

Queen’s Park – Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett is asking government members to pay attention when the RURAL REVOLUTION pulls into Queens Park this Wednesday.

Hundreds of tractors will lead farmers and rural residents to converge on the Park Wednesday, March 9 – one week after tractors and farmers turned out for an Ontario Federation of Agriculture rally.

Barrett says the ongoing rural and farm protests underline the crises being felt in small town and rural Ontario.

“This has been the winter of our discontent in rural Ontario, and whether it be intrusive landowner restrictions, or a need for help for one commodity or another, a common, unified response prevails,” said Barrett. “There are many rural problems, many rural organizations and many rural voices - these voices are all sending a common message to achieve shared goals.”

Barrett went on to point out that considering the wide range of problems, government members should at least show up to hear what their constituents are saying.

“Sawmills being shut-down, Greenbelt devaluation of property, community halls, and schools closing their doors, wildlife damage to crops and vehicles, and of course, the crises in beef, tobacco and cash crop – the list goes on,” Barrett said. “To our Ag minister and Premier: please meet with your constituents this Wednesday. Don’t divide and conquer! Don’t play one crop against another! Don’t play one organization against another!”

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