HANSARD

March 4, 2010

ORAL QUESTION
ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: My question is to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Minister, Premier McGuinty is set to announce a new set of priorities in his next throne speech, but Ontario families in farming communities are still waiting for him to deliver on what he promised them in the last throne speech. On page 6 of that throne speech in 2007, you said you would help grain and oilseed farmers deal with foreign subsidies. You said you would help farmers but you haven't. Why should Ontario farmers trust you now?
Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Madam Minister, the Ontario farmers can't trust the McGuinty Liberals, not only because you break your promises to them but because you make them jump through hoops along the way.

The former agriculture minister directed Ontario commodity groups to come together to create a consensus proposal for a risk management plan. The plan has been modelled on the grain and oilseeds program that you referred to. For the last three years, it was jointly funded by the province and the farmers. Unlike other programs to help farmers, this one actually works, but you cancelled it, leaving farmers without protection.

Was the failure to mention that your protection for farmers would only last for three years deliberate, or was it accidental?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Madam Minister, you might want to read the throne speech. It didn't speak of a pilot project and it didn't suggest that you would cancel it at the end of three years.

The McGuinty Liberals have no one to blame but themselves for failing to honour the commitments they made. Instead of keeping the commitments he has already made, the Premier finds it easier to make new promises. Ontario farmers are not looking for more promises of support. They don't want processes; they expect you to keep the promises you've already made.

For the last three years, grain farmers have paid premiums into this program, making it almost revenue neutral and at no cost to the provincial government. Why doesn't Premier McGuinty care about rebuilding some of the trust he has already lost in rural Ontario? Minister, why don't you stop making excuses and take action to help Ontario's agricultural community?