For immediate release
November 30, 2007

MCGUINTY’S THRONE SPEECH DELIVERS MORE EMPTY PROMISES – BarrettHaldimand-Norfolk MPP says Throne Speech does little to help
Ontario’s struggling economy

(Queen’s Park) –Toby Barrett says Dalton McGuinty’s Throne Speech delivers little action to improve the plight of Ontario farm economy.

While the Throne Speech contains a promise to help grain and oil seed farmers, back in 2003 the Premier promised “a new generation of farm safety nets.”

The risk management program in the Throne Speech only applies to crop farmers and is already long overdue. Ontario’s beef, hog, tobacco and horticultural producers also are in dire need of assistance. The total net farm income in Ontario dropped to negative $49 million in 2006 from $342-million in 2005.

Barrett called on the government to take real steps to address these issues and cited the alarming indicators which show that Ontario’s economic growth has fallen behind all other provinces and is now expected to rank last this year according to both RBC and CIBC.

“The only jobs Liberals seem to care about are their own,” Barrett said. “The ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ approach to Ontario’s agriculture economy has to end – it’s time to listen to economists and the people who drive our economy. “

“Start by paying more than lip-service to our farmers, and start reducing taxes, cutting red tape for Ontario’s economy,” Barrett concluded.

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