For Immediate Release:
November 29, 2005

Ag. Funding - “What went wrong?”, Barrett

Queens Park – Less than a week after again claiming to be working with the federal government on agriculture funding proposals, Ontario’s Agriculture Minister was short on answers regarding provincial action in the wake of a lacklustre funding announcement from Ottawa.

Despite numerous past assurances of working in concert with her federal counterparts,

Minister Leona Dombrowsky could only state her “disappointment” when pressed in the Legislature today by PC Agriculture Critic Toby Barrett.

“…for months now, you’ve claimed to be working with the federal government on both CAIS and companion funding - we’ve seen billions of federal dollars promised, but less than 120 million federal dollars for Ontario grain and oil seed farmers, nothing for beef, nothing for tobacco and nothing for horticultural crops,” Barrett stated. “Could you explain to the House, Minister, what went wrong?”

Dombrowsky’s response suggested that somewhere along the line her plans to, “work together” had gone off the rails.

“There’s no question that the federal announcement last week does require us to go back to that table and assess our options,” said Dombrowsky.

Barrett used his supplementary question to ask if the close relationship with the federal Liberals meant Ontario would be kicking in its usual share.

“Minister, is this the deal: 40% of less than $120 million for cash crop, 40% of nothing for beef, 40% of nothing for tobacco and 40% of nothing for horticultural crops?” Barrett queried. “Is this the deal, Minister? If not, what is the deal, or, as you say, are you just going to continue working with the federal government on this?”

Dombrowsky voiced her regret on the federal announcement before reiterating her intention to work with them in the future.

“The federal announcement last week…was disappointing - it was not as comprehensive or as long-term as we had hoped,” replied Dombrowsky. “We will continue to work with our agriculture stakeholders to have the federal government understand why it’s in the better interests of this industry that those points are considered and addressed.”

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