Wake up and help farm families, MPP Arnott tells McGuinty Government

On June 15th in the Ontario Legislature, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott again expressed support for Ontario ’s farm families. While speaking, he showed members of the Legislature the hundreds of responses he’s received recently from constituents through the Waterloo-Wellington Questionnaire. The following is the text of his remarks in the House:

Two and a half months ago, I wrote the Premier an open letter to tell him that his Provincial Budget failed to provide the level of support for agriculture that is necessary to sustain it. And today, it appears that the Premier is still indifferent to the plight of Ontario ’s farm families.

Through this year’s Waterloo-Wellington Questionnaire, I have surveyed my constituents, and hundreds of them gave me advice on agriculture. They’ve said the Government needs to start listening, understanding, and supporting our family farms.

How can the McGuinty Liberal Government continue to ignore twenty-five year-low commodity prices, increased regulatory burdens, heavier compliance costs, rising input costs, and the devastating loss of equity because of the US border being closed to Canadian beef?

Last week, the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association joined us here at Queen’s Park, making their case to MPPs. I had a follow up meeting at my constituency office on Friday. The Cattlemen’s Association appreciate the Federal Government’s effort to get onside and be supportive through changes to the Canadian Agriculture Income Support program.

Now, they’re rightly asking when the Provincial Government will commit to matching the Federal announcement in the traditional 60/40 cost-sharing formula. They’ve also asked the Minister of Agriculture to support compensation for the loss incurred when selling cull cows, similar to the support enjoyed by Quebec farmers.

My constituents want this Provincial Government to wake up and get behind our farm families in this time of urgency.