For immediate release
May 31, 2010

 

McGuinty Tries to Hide Cuts for Farmers
 

QUEEN’S PARK – Today in the Ontario Legislature Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP and PC Critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs revealed that the government’s Open for Business omnibus bill would cut compensation for farmers who lose livestock to wolves or coyotes as well as beekeepers whose hives are damaged.

“The government is trying to use this omnibus bill to hide the fact that they are once again cutting support for farmers,” said Hardeman during debate on the bill. “This legislation is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and the government isn’t prepared to pay for the damages.”

The Open for Business Act amends the Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act to remove legislated compensation for:

1. Farmers who lose livestock, including sheep, cattle, goats, rabbits, swine and poultry over 25 kg to wolves or coyotes;
2. Farmers who lose bee colonies to bears; and
3. Farmers in unorganized municipal territories that lose livestock to dogs.

“Farmers and farm organizations were asking that compensation be based on up-to-date market values, not that it be removed from legislation completely,” said Hardeman.

Hardeman also questioned the government’s progress on reducing red tape. He cited an internal OMAFRA report on the first year of the Open for Business initiative which said:
“We were able to report a burden reduction of 957 by repealing, revoking and/or amending sections to the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act; the Farm Products Marketing Act; the Ontario Agricultural Museums Act; the Dead Animal Disposal Act; the Food Safety Quality Act; the Animals For Research Act; and, the Animal Disposal Act. We did report 962 additional burdens as new regulations were enacted under the Nutrient Management Act and the Food Safety Quality Act as part of the Deadstock file. Also, a new regulation was enacted under the Ontario Food Terminal Act and an amending regulation was made to the Animals for Research Act.”

 “The problem is that the number of livestock being lost to predators is increasing and that is increasing the cost to both farmers and the province. The province is ignoring the real problem and cutting their costs by dumping the full expense on farmers,” said Hardeman. “It demonstrates once again the lack of respect that this government has for the agricultural industry and our farmers.”

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For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239

 

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