HANSARD

June 3, 2010

Cattle Farmers Statement

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I'm pleased to rise today to welcome the Ontario Cattlemen's Association to Queen's Park and thank them for providing members with a wonderful Ontario corn-fed beef barbecue lunch today.

The cattlemen make a significant contribution to our provincial and national economy. Beef production is worth over $1.8 billion to the Canadian GDP and creates more than 26,000 direct and indirect jobs.

I want to thank the cattlemen's association for coming here to tell us about the difficulties they are facing. This morning, I had the opportunity to meet with elected representatives for the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, and I talked with some of our cattle farmers during the day about the challenges they are facing. They've made it clear that farmers need the government to immediately commit their 40% funding for new risk management programs. They expect the Ontario government to support Ontario farmers the same way the Quebec government supports Quebec farmers.

Losses in the beef sector were almost $200 million last year. Producers are losing their ability to re-mortgage their farms. The situation is unsustainable.

The government cannot come out of this round of federal-provincial-territorial talks with the same empty rhetoric in the closing press release. It's time for positive action. The Ontario government must take the lead in supporting Ontario's farmers. Later this afternoon, we will be debating Jim Wilson's resolution on that issue.

I hope that after hearing from the cattlemen about what they need and enjoying the fine lunch they provided all the members, all the members in this House will support that resolution on behalf of Ontario's farmers.