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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to John Tory’s motion in calling on the government to show support to Agriculture and rural Ontario. Since the election of the McGuinty Liberals I have been concerned about the lack of support this government has given to the agricultural community and rural Ontario. In May 2004, the Liberal government saw fit to remove $128 million from the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget. It was the largest cut to any Ministry—over 20% of the budget. And again this year, 2005, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food once
again had its budget cut 23.1%. Tell me --- is this a government that
supports Agriculture and Rural Ontario? I don’t think so? During the election, Dalton McGuinty promised to work with farmers and the federal government to ensure a viable new generation of farm safety nets and to develop a new research strategy for Ontario agriculture. But instead McGuinty’s 2004 Budget delivered a $50 million cut to safety net programs and slashed almost a half-million dollars out of research and technology funding. And here we are today with the same story as last year. The CAIS program does not work without companion programs. And no one in the McGuinty government is listening to the farmers who are still trying to tell them that. It is sad to say but the situation hasn’t changed since last year. Farmers are in crisis. The Minister of Agriculture has no plan – no short-term plan and the promised to study a long-term plan. Beef farmers are still suffering from the May 2003 BSE crisis. The borders are still closed to live cattle -- beef and dairy farmers are still suffering extreme financial hardship -- spin-off industries, processing industries and whole communities are still suffering. But the minister thinks funding can be reduced. There were reasons why our government did not sign the APF. It was because, as it stood, it was not a good deal for Ontario or Ontario farmers. The CAIS program without commodity specific programs does not work. The Minister of Agriculture is quoted in Hansard on November 23, 2004 stating that and I quote “As you know, Ontario’s agriculture sector is the most diverse in the country of Canada, and these companion programs play an important role in addressing the unique needs of this province’s agriculture industry. Securing the continuation of these programs over the short-term is a key element in moving us closer to our vision of a strong and sustainable agricultural sector.” Well Minister, your Finance Minister obviously doesn’t agree that companion programs are important for farmers and your recent budget definitely tells the same story. With massive cut to the budget, you are no longer able to sustain support, which was invaluable to the farmers of this province. Programs such as MRI and SDRM, which even you agreed were important. —in fact it is in black and white in the 2005-2006 expenditures report released yesterday, showing that you dropped support to farmers to 170 million down from 279 million in the last year of the previous government. Minister, it is obvious that the McGuinty Liberals continue to march on with an urban agenda. All we have to do is look at page 29 of the budget where your Finance Minister cut Agriculture by 23.1%, once again the largest cut to a ministry I ask again this year, when is the Minister of Agriculture going to admit he is at the mercy of his urban colleagues and that he is still powerless to stop his portfolio from being ravaged. When will Premier McGuinty and the Liberal government make OMAF a lead
ministry as was promised? |
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