Laurie Scott MPP

For Immediate Release
June 05, 2007

TIME FOR FAIRNESS FOR FARMERS
Laurie Scott and John Tory present plan to support and respect Ontario’s farmers

(City of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario) – Laurie Scott, Progressive Conservative MPP (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock) today said that the time is long overdue for farmers to be provided the fairness they deserve after nearly four years of neglect by the McGuinty Liberals.

“Ontario’s farmers are an integral part of our communities. Yet today, our farming industry has been sinking deeper and deeper into financial ruin,” said Scott. “We have a responsibility to re-invest in the infrastructure that provides the rural way of life for Ontario.”

Opposition Leader John Tory said a PC government will immediately increase support for farmers by $150 million in his party’s first budget while also negotiating a new long-term and stable support model with the federal government that farmers so desperately need. He said that by the end of a John Tory PC Government’s first term, support for farmers will be $300 million higher annually than current support.

Scott detailed the components of the proposed plan to address the issues facing farmers:

	Work with farmers to negotiate a long-term, stable and flexible model of farm supports with the Federal Government based upon the Quebec agricultural model;
	Increase support for farmers by an additional $300 million annually by the end of the first term starting with an additional $150 million for farmers in the first budget;
	Implement a value-for-money audit of Agricorp in an effort to find out why farmers wait years for payments, need to hire specialists to navigate them through the bureaucratic process and then act on the recommendations;
	Within 30 days of taking office after the October 10th election, the new Minister of Agriculture would meet with farm organizations and work to develop a better process to avoid payment delays;
	Show real leadership by encouraging and promoting a ‘Buy Ontario’ strategy and ensuring that all public institutions purchase food from Ontario farmers; and
	Work with farm organizations to expand the ‘Buy Local’ Foodland Ontario campaign, work with producers and the grocery industry to establish Ontario Foods sections in stores and better promote the benefits of Ontario food to consumers.

Lindsay farmer Joe Hickson, who is one of the key drivers of the Farmers Feed Cities awareness campaign, expressed his support of Scott’s announcement today, “Farmers and consumers alike need a partner they can rely on to provide a sustainable agricultural industry. As an Ontario farmer I am very pleased that John Tory and Laurie Scott have brought forward a program that negotiates with the industry and helps address the needs of farmers today, tomorrow and for the long-term,” said Hickson. “What the current provincial government has offered is a single hit for something farmers needed over a year ago, in fact for the last four years.”

“Farmers can’t simply pack up and move their operations and the agricultural industry can’t afford to wait for more studies instead of financial assistance,” added Hickson. “Addressing the situations facing our farmers is essential to fixing the major challenges facing rural Ontario.”

“Instead of deflecting responsibility as the McGuinty Liberals have done, it’s time that the Provincial Government work with the Federal Government and the farming community to design flexible support programs that work,” said Scott. “Farmers should be able to depend on the government for respect and support. Ontario’s farmers have not received either from the McGuinty Liberals and as a result, our rural communities are suffering.”

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For Further Information Contact:

Laurie Scott, MPP

705- 324-6654

1-800-424-2490