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| For immediate release Minister Last One Still “Surprised” by Errors in Program QUEEN’S PARK – Yesterday in the Ontario Legislature Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP and PC Critic for Agriculture and Food, once again questioned the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs about errors in payments from the Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program (OCHHP). “Minister, through the Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture payment can you explain why there was a recent report that a farmer received a livestock compensation cheque and letter, signed by you, explaining that it was for his livestock even though he hasn’t had any livestock on his farm for over 40 years,” said Hardeman. Minister Dombrowsky admitted that she was surprised by the question and failed to address the error or the complaints about the program in her answer. Documents from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs show that they have received numerous complaints about the program. The goal of the Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program was to help farmers with higher input costs, the stronger Canadian dollar and lower market prices. However, the fact that 2007 was excluded from the qualifying years and that payment calculations were based on sales of four to eight years ago resulted in money going to retired farmers while new or expanding farmers were disqualified or received limited support. “This government is sending cheques to people for livestock never had or sold years ago instead of ensuring that money goes to the struggling farmers who need it to feed their families and keep their farms going,” said Hardeman. Hardeman also quoted an Ontario Farmer article that concluded the problems with this program were due to the fact: “Government knows that nobody cares. It’s only taxpayers’ money, needing to be shovelled fast for political effect, not accurately to be fair for all.” The Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program did not have an application or appeal process so there is no mechanism to help farmers who feel they should have qualified for the program. “Farmers are struggling and instead of designing a program to help the people who needed it – or at the very least including an appeal process to ensure that deserving farmers weren’t overlooked – this government wrote cheques without getting the right information or looking at where the money was going,” said Hardeman.
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Backgrounder In the Ontario Legislature Ernie Hardeman, on behalf of the PC Caucus, has repeatedly cited examples of how the Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program is failing farmers. Mr. Ernie Hardeman: To the Minister of Agriculture and Food: In the fall economic statement, the Minister of Finance announced a program to help horticulture, beef and the pork industry get through tough times because of "higher input costs, the stronger Canadian dollar and lower market prices." But many young and expanding farmers are disqualified or receiving next to nothing. Payments to farmers were based on sales from 2000 to 2004, and if 50% of their income in 2005 and 2006 wasn't from pork or beef, they didn't qualify. Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I want to start by commending the University of Guelph for all the good work that they do. I wish I could believe that this funding would be implemented properly, but after seeing the many problems of the cattle, hog and horticulture program, I have concerns. The minister used old data. Farmers who had sold their stock and retired got cheques, but young and expanding farmers who needed money to stay in business and feed their families didn't qualify. |
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