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For immediate release
QUEEN’S PARK – The McGuinty government has introduced a motion that will severely limit consultation on animal health and safety in Ontario said Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP and PC critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “I realize that the Minister of Agriculture is a little out of touch with farmers, but I had hoped that she at least knew they weren’t located in downtown Toronto,” said Hardeman. “Four hours of committee hearings on one afternoon in Toronto is an insult to the thousands of farmers who are going to pay the cost of this bill.” As part of the time allocation motion on Bill 204, Animal Health Act presentations from farmers and agricultural groups will be limited to four hours in Toronto on the afternoon of November 25. The motion also cuts off second reading debate in the Legislature and limits third reading to one hour divided among the political parties. Just over two weeks before the time allocation motion was introduced the Minister of Agriculture said in the Legislature: “As yet, we do not have a national traceability framework, but we are, in this legislation-and we certainly are looking forward to debating it in this Legislature, going to committee with it and getting feedback from our stakeholders, particularly on this traceability piece.” The PC Caucus supports the principle of the bill – to protect animal health and food safety – but have raised some concerns about how the legislation is written, including:
The time allocation motion must be debated and passed by the Legislature but it is expected that the government will use their majority to push it through. “I would encourage rural members on all sides of the house to stand up for farmers and the agricultural industry and vote against this time allocation motion so we can take the time to get this bill right,” said Hardeman.
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