Respect for rural Ontario

Friday, March 15, 2013   by: Kate AdamsNipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

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Ontario can lead Canada in job creation again, but for that to happen, the vital role of agriculture to our economy can no longer be ignored by the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.


Fedeli made the comments following the launch of the latest Paths to Prosperity discussion paper, Respect for Rural Ontario – the 12th white paper on strengthening our economy.


“Agriculture supports our province’s overall economy,” Fedeli said. “It’s an engine that creates jobs in every corner of the province, from our farms in rural communities here in Nipissing to our processing plants in big cities. In fact, half of all Ontario canola and 20 per cent of all Ontario oats come from Northern Ontario.


“Yet over the past decade, the Liberals have made deliberate decisions that have damaged our agriculture industry,” Fedeli said. “Every day we see farmers and agribusinesses struggle because of high taxes, skyrocketing energy rates and a thicket of red tape.”


Respect for Rural Ontario offers bold, confident ideas to repair the damage and make the province’s agriculture industry world leaders again in innovation and production. For example, an Ontario PC government would attract good jobs and investments to the province by:


· Growing the market for biodiesel by requiring all diesel sold in Ontario to have two per cent biodiesel.

· Reducing the regulatory burden by a minimum of 33 per cent over three years and creating one-window access to government for farmers.

· Reducing the risk for farmers by putting all Risk Management Program premiums – farmers’ and government’s – into a dedicated fund to even out good and bad years.


Fedeli said the only thing standing in the way of progress to create new jobs supporting agriculture is a government that treats farming as “out of sight, out of mind”.


“The Liberals fail to understand that modern, sophisticated farming drives job creation in every corner of Ontario.” Fedeli added.


“Only the Ontario PCs have a plan to build on the role of agriculture in a strong economy for all of us.”

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