In response to questions from Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter in Queston Period on Tuesday, Conservative Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made clear he would not support federal funding for Ontario’s proposed Risk Management Program (RMP).
“Minister Ritz has presided over a $900-million cut in Agriculture Canada spending over the last year, while countless hog and beef producers went into further debt and out of business,” said Mr. Easter. “Ontario farmers have come together to propose a practical, bankable business risk management program, yet this government refuses to support them.”
Earlier this week, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff committed to AgriFlex as it was originally proposed by farmers: federal funding to support regionally flexible programs like the RMP in Ontario.
“Farmers have said no to one-size-fits-all,” said Mr. Easter. “National programs just don’t work. What farmers want are practical and predictable programs that help them meet their cost of production.
“This minister and this government take farmers for granted to such a degree they actually believe that farmers will not remember their string of broken commitments. Whether it’s cost or fictional rules and regulations, the Conservatives seek any excuse to not support Ontario farmers.”
The Liberal Party has committed to working with farmers to build farm programs from the farm up, not Ottawa down.
“Ontario farmers would have a federal partner with a Michael Ignatieff Liberal government in working to provide flexible funding for the RMP,” concluded Mr. Easter.
