FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 1, 2016
QUEEN’S PARK – Opposition Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Critic and Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett challenged the minister on cuts to the ag budget and how that will impact agri-business.
“The agriculture minister cut his budget from $943 million to $916 million, that’s close to a $28 million cut on this minister’s watch,” Barrett said in the Legislature, asking what programs will be eliminated.
The minister dodged the question.
Barrett also noted that six ministries have funding for Green Investment Fund initiatives, but not OMAFRA, and questioned why farmers were excluded.
The minister said farmers who have an Environmental Farm Plan will be part of the government’s plan, but did not provide detail how this will be accomplished.
Barrett also asked why the requested farm/industrial rate for electricity wasn’t in the budget, where assistance for the natural gas expansion was and how rural and northern residents are going to deal with new taxes on home heating and gasoline. Again, the minister dodged the question and focused on past budgets.
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org
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