MEMBERS’ STATEMENT

Mr. Speaker, for many farmers on farm sales are an important source of additional income.

For many families stopping at a farm to purchase newly picked Ontario corn, strawberries, tomatoes or other produce is a summer tradition. People watch for road signs to know when crops are ready and where they are available for sale.

But in Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario this simple tradition is being threatened.

Many farms aren’t located on well traveled provincial highways, they are on country side roads. Customers and farmers rely on directional signs to help people find the farms where produce is being sold.

But for farmers like Charles Emre – an asparagus farmer in Norfolk - having that sign has become a battle.

This spring Charles posted his sign with permission on private property along Highway 24. Soon afterwards the owner of the land received a threatening letter from MTO telling them to take it down. Charles estimated that his sales dropped by 50% without the sign.

The story appeared in newspapers across Ontario. Since then MTO agreed to ignore the sign for the rest of harvest.

Mr. Speaker, we want our Ontario farmers to succeed. We want people to buy Ontario.

But the Ministry’s actions had the exact opposite effect. Farmers shouldn’t have to go through this.

That is why later today I will be introducing a bill that will allow farmers to post seasonal directional signage along provincial highways so that farmers like Charles can stop dealing with red tape and get back to dealing with asparagus, potatoes and all the people who will be once again following the signs to Ontario freshest produce.