Where is the Ontario government as tractors roll?

Ontario farm protests are growing in frequency as this government continues to turn a blind eye.

In the past week alone, two more large farm rallies –one on the highways of Huron, and the other at Wallaceburg – emphasized the mounting frustration with a growing list of inequities and concerns.

As the frustration boils over onto our roadways, I continue to wonder when we will see any indication that government is listening.

For instance, my questions - and those of grain and oilseeds farmers across the province – about provincial assistance continue to meet a brick wall in the Legislature.

In response to my direct questions for support, Agriculture Minister Dombrowsky has told me that “we are there with the money,” and “it would appear that the federal government is not eager to move as swiftly as we are.”

But this flies in the face of what farmers – across Ontario – are telling me.

Farmers are swiftly receiving the federal cheques. They're taking the federal money to the bank, to the fertilizer warehouse, to their seed dealer. With the lack of any provincial announcements at time of writing, the question remains: if “we are there with the money,” just where is there?

Where is the Ontario government?

As well, the Minister herself has admitted the government farm support program, CAIS (Canadian Agricultural Income Support), “has not worked well for Grain and Oilseeds.” – that was 5 months ago. Farmers have set March 9th as their deadline for endorsement of their Risk Management Program – still no action as that line grows near.

And it's not just cash crop farmers; it's beef, horticulture, tobacco, cull cow, deadstock, export dairy heifer, even the production of honey.

There is also still no word on support for tobacco farmers seeking to exit the industry, still no support for horticulture producers.

The myriad of issues all add fuel to the fire that only grows in intensity with continued government neglect.

It’s clear that we in farm and rural Ontario want back on the map.

Government is taking away our dreams in rural Ontario and leaving us with little but memories.

The evidence of this government neglect is not hard to find.

Farm families are disappearing at an alarming rate – we need 500 new farmers each year, not just 5 or 10.

Add to this the numerous rules and regulations and red tape that have restricted rural farmers and entrepreneurs, and take the fun – as well as profit – out of doing business. I think of draconian legislation for Source Water Protection, or the greenbelt that the government has spent $1.5 million to promote – $400-thousand more than they spent to promote Foodland Ontario.

Finally, there are the additional costs that have us paying $2,000 more a year for health tax and energy, while doctor shortages grow and McGuinty’s coal closure energy plan threatens to shut down Nanticoke. Those costs are in addition to the unfair property tax assessments that have been leveled by MPAC – farm bunkhouses are only the latest to be targeted following maple syrup producers, trailer parks and horse farms.

As the list of frustrations, rural rallies and farm protests grow in frequency - and intensity - the question remains, “Where is the Ontario government?”