For immediate release
November 17, 2009

McGuinty Refuses to Hear from Ontario Farmers

 

QUEEN’S PARK – Today the McGuinty government voted down an amendment that would have brought committee hearings on Bill 204, Animal Health Act to Stratford, Guelph and Lindsay to hear from Ontario farmers, said Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP and PC critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

“The Animal Health Act will change the way that many farmers operate, they deserve the opportunity to comment on those changes,” said Hardeman. “The McGuinty government seems unaware that our farmers are not located in downtown Toronto which is why the PC Caucus introduced an amendment to take the committee hearings to rural Ontario.”

As part of the McGuinty government’s 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 PC Caucus introduced an amendment to add days of committee hearings in Stratford, Guelph and Lindsay. Dalton McGuinty and Leona Dombrowsky were among the 64 members of the Liberal caucus who voted against the amendment.

“We support the principle of the bill – to protect animal health and food safety – but we have concerns about how the legislation is written and the impact on farmers,” said Hardeman. “There is no reason to rush this bill through, the government should have taken the time to hear from farmers and make sure we get it right.”

Concerns about the Animal Health Act include:

1. compensation for orders under the Act, such as having animals destroyed, is discretionary;
2. the Act allows inspectors the ability to enter and search properties and buildings without a warrant; and
3. the Act creates a new system of licences and fees that do not appear to aid animal health and simply cause red tape and added expense for farmers.

People who want to appear before the committee in Toronto should check the Ontario Legislature website over the next few days for details or contact Ernie Hardeman’s office at (416) 325-1239.

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