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QUEEN’S PARK – The McGuinty government throne speech today repeated pervious announcements and failed to address the needs of our struggling farmers or municipalities, said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “This throne speech contained so many reannouncements that some of them referred to programs that the government already has in place,” said Hardeman. “There was nothing new to help our farmers, our municipalities or our manufacturing sector.” The throne speech launched the first session of the 39th Parliament and was the first throne speech for Ontario’s new Lieutenant Governor David Onley. “I have heard from farmers in Oxford County that are struggling make ends meet and continue farming,” said Hardeman. “They were looking for help from the McGuinty government today and instead got a reannouncement of a grain and oilseed program that is already being implemented.” “There were no announcements to help other agriculture sectors, such as our tobacco farmers who urgently need help,” added Hardeman. The municipal section included a reannouncement of the Ontario Drug Benefit costs uploading, an announcement which was made at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference last summer. At the time McGuinty told municipalities that the change would be regulated before the election. The municipal section also included the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery review which was announced in August 2006. Other reannouncements included the MoveOntario 2020 plan for transportation announced last spring which doesn’t include any spending over the next four years. “Today was an opportunity for Dalton McGuinty to announce concrete plans to help our farmers and municipalities,” said Hardeman. “He missed that opportunity.” - 30 -
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