FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 22, 2016
VIENNA – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett, Opposition Critic to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek are urging all concerned to comment on the proposed free market system for the marketing of processing vegetables.
The proposal, posted June 28 by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC), would no longer permit the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers to negotiate crop prices. The proposed regulation would also establish an industry advisory committee. Comments close on Aug. 12.
“Proposing major changes to processing vegetable marketing at the height of the growing and harvest season is not the way to do things,” Barrett said. “Farmers’ priority is harvesting their crop, irrigation and other direct crop-related matters, not responding to regulations that could impact them.”
Barrett and MPP Jeff Yurek met with processing vegetable growers earlier today on a farm near the Elgin-Norfolk county line.
“Why are farmers being asked to work on this during their busiest time of the year – extend the August 12th comment deadline to after harvest,” Yurek said.
Barrett has written a letter to the minister asking for an extended deadline and calling for public hearings.
In a letter of response, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal wrote, “If the commission decides to implement its proposal, a party affected by the decision can file for re-consideration to the OFPMC. A decision made by the OFPMC upon re-consideration, may be reviewed by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.”
For more information on the proposal, or to comment, visit the web site at http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=22133&language=en
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org