For Immediate Release
March 26, 2009

Ontario budget leaves farmers in the cold….again

Queens Park - Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett could only shake his head as the McGuinty Government once again ignored the requests of Ontario farmers at budget time.

“There’s absolutely nothing in this budget for farmers from any field,” Barrett said. “These are the families who provide quality food to the rest of Ontario and this government thinks it’s okay to leave them out in the cold year after year.”

Just yesterday, Barrett joined Agriculture Critic Ernie Hardeman and MPP Randy Hillier in addressing the crowd. Ed, a deceased and former member of the livestock herd, was not allowed by Queens Park security to attend and decry the announced government gut to funding for dead stock collection that took effect March 1st.

“Deadstock funding was slashed with no new dollars mentioned today,” Barrett said.  “Didn’t the Premier listen to the livestock operators who came to Queen’s Park in their last ditch attempt to request funding?” 

In 2003, the government began providing support to deadstock collectors to ensure that they could continue to provide farmers with safe, affordable animal disposal. The McGuinty government recently cut that funding without putting a plan in place.

The local MPP said other plights were ignored as well.

“And tobacco farmers were hoping that the McGuinty government would do the right thing today and live up to its promised 40 per cent share of a federally-led exit package,” Barrett said. “I have absolutely no good news for tobacco, beef, hog, or those hort producers facing tough times.”

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