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For Immediate Release QUEEN’S PARK – Today in the Ontario Legislature Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford and PC critic for Agriculture and Food, questioned the Premier on whether the upcoming economic statement will contain overdue support for new and young farmers. “Because of your government’s policies hundreds of new and young farmers were cheated out the support they deserved,” said Hardeman. “When your Minister of Finance releases the economic statement can you assure us there will be support for these farmers?” The Premier deferred the question to the Minister of Agriculture who avoided addressing the needs of beginning farmers. The fall economic statement is expected on October 22. Hardeman was referring to the Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program which used out-of-date data to determine eligibility and calculate support payments. As a result, retired and deceased farmers received large cheques while many new or expanding farmers were excluded from the program or received only a fraction of the support to which they were entitled. The Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program did not have an application or appeal process so there is no mechanism to help farmers who should have qualified for the program. “The producers wanted the cheques out quickly. Your job was to see that they went to the right people and you failed miserably on that front,” said Hardeman. “These farmers create jobs in the rural economy. Some of them are spending millions of dollars a year and hiring numerous people in our rural communities. They don’t understand why your government won’t help them so that they can continue farming.”
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