For immediate release:
November 23, 2006
Ag Minister went to Calgary empty-handed
Provincial Minister passed the buck and
blamed the federal government: Barrett
Queen’s Park—During
today’s Question Period, MPP Toby Barrett – Opposition Agriculture
Critic – asked the Minister of Agriculture why she refused to advocate
on behalf of Ontario’s farmers at this month’s Federal/Provincial
Ministers’ meeting.
“Your leader received 30,000 postcards
asking for provincial support for agriculture and the rural economy, including
the Risk Management Program for cash crop,” Barrett told the Minister
of Agriculture. “You would be aware of requests from other commodity
groups and farm organizations requesting income support, whether it be
Self Directed Production Insurance or even a return to NISA.
“You just returned from Calgary
– from the federal/provincial/territorial Minister’s meeting,”
Barrett continued. “Did you fight for RMP, did you fight for SDPI,
NISA, or any other changes to CAIS?”
Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture
traveled to Calgary on November 14, to discuss possible solutions to the
crises facing farmers. Barrett’s asked which ideas – if any
– Ontario’s Agriculture Minister brought to the table.
“Taxpayers sent you to the meeting
in Calgary, and they want to know what you did,” Barrett told the
Minister after she ducked his question. “What is your position on
the Risk Management Program, on SDPI, or a return to NISA?
“Farmers deserve to know whether
their provincial government is going to bat for them at these Ministers’
meetings,” Barrett said after Question Period. “Despite years
of farm protests, agriculture leaders are still at square one –
the Minister still has no position on the farm income crisis.”
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For more information, please contact
MPP Toby Barrett at: (519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
November 23, 2006
Assistance to Farmers
Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand–Norfolk–Brant): To the Minister of Agriculture: You’re aware of the McGuinty strategy
of blaming the federal government for everything. However, your leader
received 30,000 postcards asking for provincial support for agriculture
in our rural economy, including the risk management program for cash crops.
You would be aware of other requests from other farm organizations, commodity
groups, asking for income support, whether it be the self-directed production
insurance, even asking for a return to NISA. Farmers do need a level playing
field to compete, Minister.
You’ve just returned from Calgary.
You’ve just come back from a federal/provincial/territorial ministers’
meeting. My question: As Ontario’s minister of Agriculture, in Calgary
did you fight for RMP? Did you fight for self-directed production insurance,
for the return of NISA? Did you fight for a transformation of the CAIS
program?
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Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I have to say that I’m
always happy to talk about the work that we do in the McGuinty government
for farmers, the fact that under the leadership of our Premier, we have
provided over $900 million in new dollars. That is in direct support to
farmers, because this government values the second-largest industry, the
industry that has the greatest impact on rural communities. So with respect
to the transformation of CAIS, I’m very happy to report to the honourable
member that since coming to office, our government has been working with
our provincial colleagues and with the federal government. We’ve
listened very carefully to producers. I think one of the first and the
most significant action that we took was to replace the requirement for
a deposit to participate in CAIS. This was something that farmers told
us they wanted. There is a more accurate assessment of losses under the
CAIS program, better protection for expanded negative margins. We have
done this in consultation with the stakeholders, as well as—
The Speaker (Hon. Michael A.
Brown): Thank you.
Mr. Barrett: Minister,
I asked about the Calgary meeting. Are you admitting you’re ineffective
in dealing with the feds? Taxpayers sent you to that meeting in Calgary.
They want to know what you did. Did you pitch any proposals at all on
behalf of Ontario’s farmers? There’s no news release on your
website. Minister, if you didn’t pitch any ideas at the Calgary
meeting, at least admit it. Admit that you’ve left farmers out on
a limb. Don’t embarrass yourself. We don’t want to hear about
any blame game or finger pointing. Farmers wish to know specifically where
you stand. Please put it on the record. What is your position on RMP,
the risk management program? What is your position on SDPI? Where do you
stand with respect to a return of the CAIS program?
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Since
the honourable member asked, I will tell you what Ontario did to fight
for Ontario farmers. Before the ministers went to Calgary, we received
a framework for the next APF discussions from the federal government.
You know what was not included in that framework? There was no component
to consult on the risk management program of any kind. There was nothing
for income support. So I wrote to the federal minister and I indicated
that I wanted to see that as part of the consultation process. I contacted
my provincial colleagues and asked them to support me. When we arrived
in Calgary, I did gain the support of my provincial colleagues. And I’m
happy to report that the federal minister is prepared now to include a
component for ?? risk management, for income support, in the next consultation.
That’s what Ontario has done for Ontario farmers. We brought the
federal government onside to discuss—
The Speaker: Thank
you.
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