For Immediate Release
January 26, 2010

Farm issues to dominate London hearings

London – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett anticipates fulsome debate today at pre-budget hearings in London, as a number of farm groups bring forward their concerns.

“Farmers in all fields have had some very trying times over the past few years,” Barrett noted. “And just as grain and oilseed, hog, beef and hort farmers thought they may be getting somewhere with Minister Dombrowsky, the Premier decides to shuffle his cabinet – that’s like changing horses mid-stream.

” Looking over the list of presenters slated for pre-budget hearings today in London, Barrett is hopeful that not only will risk management be addressed, but also many of the other problems plaguing rural Ontario.

“As I travel the province with the Finance Committee, I look forward to hearing from rural folks and I feel that it’s important for other committee members to hear these testimonies as well,” Barrett said. “Today it will be interesting to hear from groups like Ontario Grains and Oilseeds, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition and the South Coast Grow Me Green Energy Association.”

Pre-budget hearings begin this morning at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. at the London Delta Armouries Hotel. Tomorrow the committee will be in Dryden.

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