For Immediate Release
January 23, 2008

MORE RESOURCES ON THE WAY FOR FARM FAMILIES

McGuinty Government Expands Training and Outreach Services

TORONTO - Ontario farm families will have more resources available to help them manage their way through financial pressures and changing market conditions.

The province is providing $500,000 to boost business training resources and enhance services offered by a phone-in help line for farmers.

"We want to ensure that farm families have all the information they need at their fingertips, from emotional support services to affordable business and market development training opportunities," said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky. "We are working to put farmers on a stronger footing, emotionally and financially."

"We are committed to developing effective training that will empower Ontario producers and strengthen our agricultural industry," said Rob Hannam, president, The Centre for Rural Leadership. "This investment will assist us in delivering on that goal."

"Farm and rural families face unique work and living circumstances. When times are tough our service can really be a lifeline for them. This funding will strengthen the support we provide," said Susan Klein-Swormink, manager, The Farm Line.

The funding is part of $150 million in assistance announced in the 2007 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review to increase competitiveness and help hog, horticultural and cattle farmers.

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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office

(416) 326-6439 Brent Ross
Communications Branch
(416) 326-9342

Backgrounder

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT INVESTS $500,000 TO EXPAND BUSINESS TRAINING OPPORTUNTIES AND FARM FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

The Centre for Rural Leadership www.ruralleadership.ca

The Centre for Rural Leadership is an organization designed to offer agricultural and rural leadership programming through educational programs, which include the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), one of the longest-running, most successful agricultural leadership development programs in the world.

The Centre will receive a one-time transfer payment of $300,000 from the Ontario government to work with farm stakeholder and established training organizations in delivering affordable, hands-on business planning and market development workshops for farm families across Ontario.

Examples of current workshops that could be adapted and delivered across Ontario include:

Staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be working with producer groups and The Centre for Rural Leadership to develop these workshops and assist in their delivery.

The Farm Line (1-888-451-2903) www.thefarmline.ca

In operation since November 2000, The Farm Line Support Service is a telephone support help line for farmers and rural families in Ontario. The Farm Line provides referral to advisory services that address human and rural family dynamics as well as legal and financial resources.

The toll-free, confidential and bilingual service gives farm and rural families access to peer support on agricultural subjects, addressing issues and situations ranging from financial and legal, to personal, family and mental health.

Support and referral services also provide farmers access to mentoring, enhanced advisory services and networking.

As part of its strategy to assist the hog, cattle and horticultural sectors, the Ontario government is providing a one-time transfer payment of $200,000 to The Farm Line Support Service to enhance their existing peer-to-peer emotional support services and further develop their partner-delivered, front-line counseling services in order to provide immediate support to affected farm families.

The Farm Line organization is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, funded by a number of private and public organizations, including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
(416) 326-6439

Brent Ross
Communications Branch
(416) 326-9342