For Immediate Release
January 14, 2005

Welcome to Rural Revolution

Simcoe – Farmers from many fields are tired of waiting for answers from the current provincial government and now, they are taking action.

According to a release from the Lanark Landowners Association, rural property owners from across Ontario delivered a plea to government politicians – to date, none have answered the call. As a result, farmers are prepared to close Highway 401 at Highway 19, north of Tillsonburg, next Friday. Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett also plans to be there.

“This will not be the first farmer protest that I’ve attended,” Barrett said. “As a government MPP I have previously spoken at a number of road closure rallies, sponsored primarily by cash crop farmers.”

In their plea to government, the Association and other rural residents demanded that legislation be developed to “protect the use and ownership of private property” and that fair and timely compensation be forwarded to those in need. The demands deal with issues like The Safe Drinking Water Act, the BSE crisis, The Nutrient Management Act, the proposed greenbelt legislation and tobacco compensation.

“Your war on Ontario tobacco farmers and consumers through high taxation and smoking bans destroys our most basic freedom ‘choice’ and destroys the marketplace,” said Lanark Landowners Association President Randy Hillier in a letter to politicians. “ Unjust government policies will be withdrawn or a full and immediate buyout of tobacco farmer’s quota is required.”

Barrett said that Ontario’s farmers have been silently patient for a long time, which has resulted in no government action.

“It’s obviously time for a new approach,” Barrett said. “These are good hardworking people who deserve to be treated with dignity – that’s why I will go and support them.”

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629