Time to Move on BSE
October 25, 2004

Mr. Speaker, today the Ontario Federation of Agriculture issued a statement calling on the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to get BSE program money to Ontario producers immediately.

Geri Kamenz, Vice-President of the OFA stated, “We’re at a point where we need to ask that the Minister direct his staff to develop and deliver the federal/provincial funding immediately…the time for talk is long past. It is time to put the details and programs in front of people. It is time to pay those people who are due a CAIS payment in the short order.”

Well, Mr. Speaker, I agree it is high time Ontario farmers get the money they deserve. That’s why BSE funding was a focus of our Opposition Motion last week and that’s why many of our members spoke to it.

We pointed out the Alberta government had applications and an administrative process available as soon as the federal money was announced while the Ontario government was not ready.

The Ontario Farmer reported on October 19th the first cattle set-aside auction had already been held and that most of the participants were from Alberta, whose program was already up and running.

It continued to say that no one from Ontario was able to take part because this province has yet to put in place any application system.

Well, Minister Speaker, I ask, is this all our farmers are worth to this government? Our farmers are suffering because this government isn’t competent with agricultural and rural issues.

I stand today to demand the McGuinty government start treating safety net programs with the importance they deserve and make CAIS money available to the farmers of this province immediately.

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