For Release: March 02, 2005

An Open Letter to Ontario's Farmers,

Despite being scheduled to attend a meeting of federal-provincial-territorial Ministers of Agriculture on March 2 and 3, I delayed going so that I would have the opportunity to attend and support the agricultural rally at Queen's Park, and to bring your message with me to Ottawa.

I want to say to you that I do understand your pain and frustration, as does the Premier. This government will continue to play its role in supporting Ontario farmers while maintaining its ongoing role as a full national partner in supporting agriculture.

Premier McGuinty and I met with farm and commodity organization leaders John Kikkert, Don Mills, Ron Bonnett, Ian McKillop, Bruce Saunders, Len Troup, Doug Eadie and Fred Neukamm to discuss the farm income situation and other pressing issues on Tuesday, February 22.

As a result of this meeting, I am appointing an Advisory Group to study the business risk management system. I am asking them for advice on how to ensure a strong agricultural sector now and into the future with an eye toward our fiscal restraints. I have asked Terry Daynard, Hector Delanghe, Graeme Hedley, and Jack Wilkinson to make up this Advisory Group. I am honoured that they have all agreed to step forward once again to serve the agricultural industry. Most of you will know that these are individuals of the highest stature and reputation who will bring a reasoned approach to this critical situation.

We all recognize that farm incomes are declining right across this country. This is a national issue and requires a national solution. I will speak for Ontario's farmers, loudly and clearly, when I am in Ottawa. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada must work with us to develop plans to bolster farm incomes and sustain our agri-food industry.

Ontario must keep more of our money right here in the province. We send $23 billion more every year to Ottawa than we get back in services. To ensure that all of Ontario continues to prosper, through the necessary investments in health, in education and in our agri-food sector and rural communities, we need to hang on to more of our money.

Despite this gap, we have made some progress on the farm income front. The Market Revenue Insurance funds for 2003 and 2004 -- $94 million - are either in the hands of grains and oilseed farmers, or will be very soon. An additional $44 million will be delivered through the Top-Up program to all those producers who received a 2003 CAIS payment.

We understand that some of our Government's initiatives are perceived to have placed an additional burden on your business. But you also know that regulations such as Nutrient Management, Source Water Protection and world class meat regulations are imperative to consumer confidence and public support for your industry. We recognize that some of you need help to get there and that is why we are working with your farm and commodity organizations to find ways of achieving our goals without putting additional hardships on you, our farmers.

One of our first actions was to commit $20 million to the largest farms that fell under the first phase of the program. We also extended the deadline by six months to allow for a full construction season.

We understand that we still need to do more. I want to assure you that we are working on ways to lighten the load. As the Premier told your farm leaders, Minister Dombrowsky and I have been working on ways to ensure that we can move forward in implementing the Nutrient Management plan in a risk-based way that neither places an unbearable burden on you nor compromises our commitment to safe, clean drinking water.

The Premier has also asked the Minister of the Environment to bring forward proposals to address farmers' concerns regarding Permit To Take Water fees.

The government is also moving forward on ways to enhance the delivery of agricultural research and development initiatives in Ontario. The Premier has directed the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to include agri-food as a priority for the Ontario Research Fund.

As we continue to work towards a world class innovative and sustainable agricultural sector, know this: I remain committed to agriculture in this province. I offer my congratulations to your farm leadership for organizing a peaceful rally that shows that you truly care about the industry and communities in which you live and work.

I applaud your enthusiasm and want to continue working towards a brighter future for our industry. Each and every sector needs to be recognized for the patience that they have shown and the support that goes on quietly behind the scenes.

Together we can make Ontario - truly - a place to grow!

Steve Peters
Minister of Agriculture and Food

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Media Contact:
Jamie Rilett
Minister's Office
416-326-6439
416-458-2610 (Mobile)