FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2017
QUEEN’S PARK – Opposition benches erupted when Toby Barrett, Agriculture Critic and MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk, asked Premier Wynne if she has “challenged this tax grab on farm corporations with the Prime Minister.”
As Barrett demanded, “Why will you not join us in fighting these tax hikes, so the coming generation of young farmers can afford to buy their parent’s farms?”
“For many years, farm families have been encouraged by their Ontario government to sharpen their pencils, run their farms like a business, and if warranted, incorporate,” Barrett said during Question Period. “As farmers, we were told to think about the next generation, plan for the continuity of the farm within the family, do succession planning by incorporating. Many farmers took the advice of your government, will be punished for it by punitive tax measures from your federal cousins.”
Barrett concluded by pushing the government to name one farmer in favour of these tax hikes.
Wynne avoided the questions, suggesting it was one that should be asked of the federal Liberal government by the Conservative Opposition in Ottawa. This was the same response to an earlier Opposition question, by MPP Monte McNaughton, in regards to protecting small businesses. A supplementary to Barrett’s question, by MPP Lisa Thompson brought an odd response about Maxine Bernier from Agriculture Minister Leal.
Hansard video can be found here: https://youtu.be/f401ojz-Q88
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Taxation
Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Premier: For many years, farm families have been encouraged by the Ontario government to sharpen their pencils, run their operation more like a business and, if warranted, incorporate. As farmers, we were told to think about the next generation and plan for the continuity of the farm within the family. Farmers were told to do succession planning and tax planning by incorporating.
Many farmers took the advice of your government but will now be punished by punitive tax measures from your federal cousins. Premier, have you challenged this tax grab on farm corporations with the Prime Minister? We ask: Why will you not join us in fighting these tax hikes, so the coming generation of young farmers can afford to buy their parents’ farms?
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.
Mr. Toby Barrett: Name one farmer in favour of these tax hikes—
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.
First of all, when I say “Thank you,” your question is over. Second of all, when I stand, you sit.
Premier?
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Again, this is a question that perhaps Andrew Scheer would like to be asking in the House of Commons. I think an effective opposition in Ottawa might actually be asking these questions—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Ahem.
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The opposition in Ottawa might want to be asking these questions, as opposed to asking a member in a provincial Legislature to ask a question.
I know that the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is going to want to talk about all the things that we are doing to support farmers, but I will just make one comment: In the recent conversations about NAFTA, we have been extremely clear that in Ontario, we are supportive of our agriculture sector. We will continue to support supply management, and we will do that in the face of any incursions that the Americans might want to make on that. We believe in our farm sector, and we support them.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Be seated, please.
Interjection: He stands, you sit.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I stand, you be quiet.
Supplementary? The member from Huron–Bruce.
Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: Again, back to the Premier: Last week, at the International Plowing Match, the Premier praised Ontario’s agri-food sector, saying, “Farming in Ontario is a critical part of our economy. It’s a $37-billion industry that translates into more than 700,000 jobs”—and that number is growing. “It’s fundamental to who we are as Ontarians.”
Speaker, I couldn’t agree more, but I have to ask: Why, then, is the Premier choosing to do nothing for this sector? The Liberal Premier of Nova Scotia is standing up for farmers, so why doesn’t the Premier of Ontario stand up to the federal government on behalf of Ontario farmers?
This Premier has imposed a flood of new costs on farmers, and now the federal government is about to attack our farmers with even more taxes. Will the Premier stand up for Ontario farmers, a group she called critical to our economy, and demand, just like the Premier of Nova Scotia—
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. Be seated, please. Thank you.
Premier?
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Hon. Jeff Leal: I appreciate the question, the supplementary from the member from Huron–Bruce. I can say that we have been in contact with the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to express our concerns, particularly when it comes to succession planning for family farms in the province of Ontario.
But, Mr. Speaker, I want to remind everybody that when this government brought forward an initiative to fund a $100-million Risk Management Program and the government of Ontario was funding 40% of the program, they sat and did nothing—
Interjection.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Huron–Bruce.
Hon. Jeff Leal: —to bring in the federal program to match it. And they’re all supporting Maxime Bernier, who wanted to get rid of supply management for Ontario farmers.