Conservatives pledge supply management protection, small business bill of rights

Friday, September 30, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

Strong farms are vital to a strong Ontario, according to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

Changebook is the PC’s plan to bring change for Ontario’s families. The agricultural platform includes plans to:

•    deliver the business risk management program;
•    protect supply management for farmers;
•    have a ‘buy Ontario’ food policy with the party leading by example at provincial institutions, such as hospitals and schools;
•    increase market access for Ontario’s VQA wines.

For businesses, the party plans to eliminate job killing red tape and introduce a Small Business Bill of Rights to recognize that they are the engine of growth, job creation and prosperity.

Questions:
We asked the main provincial political parties to respond to three mandatory questions and respond to one other question of their choice among a list or visit our website to respond to one of our readers’ questions. The elective questions were: What priorities do you think the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' budget should have? What is your position on farm workers having the right to strike? What is your position on the proposed Melancthon Quarry?

BF: How would you convince the federal government to support Ontario’s risk management program and pay its 60 per cent share?

PC: Risk management is not only about peace of mind, it is about correcting a competitive imbalance that gives farmers in other jurisdictions an unfair market advantage. Our program will be based on the cost of production. And unlike the Liberals – our support will be predictable and permanent. We will strengthen our agriculture industry by making the risk management program a dedicated fund to ensure premiums go to support for our farmers.

Instead of implementing this program for farmers, Dalton McGuinty used the federal government as an excuse for two years to delay the implementation of this program. If we are elected government we will continue to negotiate with the federal government for support for farmers but we won’t let anyone else’s actions be an excuse for neglecting Ontario’s farmers.

BF: How would you attract young farmers to the industry?

PC: We need to ensure that young people see the agriculture industry as one where there are opportunities to succeed. Under Dalton McGuinty support for farmers has not been a priority. His sneaky tax grabs, excessive red tape and skyrocketing hydro bills have increased farmers’ cost of production. We understand that in order to compete with farmers in other provinces and other countries that our farmers need insurance programs that work, the elimination of needless red tape and a government that listens to their needs.

BF: What will you do to get Ontario companies back into processing Ontario-grown food?

PC: Food processing industries have been hit hard by Dalton McGuinty’s red tape and skyrocketing hydro bills. Under his government we lost the last canning plant this side of the Rocky Mountains. Companies that try to invest here in Ontario have been complaining about red tape and conflicting rules from different ministries. We will help food processing companies by introducing a one-window access to government for farmers and agri-businesses to save time, avoid duplication and help farmers and agri-businesses get one clear, consistent answer from government. We would also create an environment that encourages investment by cutting corporate tax rates and appointing a cabinet minister responsible for cutting red tape by 30 %.

BF: What priorities do you think OMAFRA’s budget should have?

PC: We need to focus our resources where it matters and provide support for farmers, research and the services that actually help our agriculture industry to grow.

We will implement a risk management program with a dedicated fund to ensure premiums go to support for our farmers, implement a strong Buy Ontario policy and create one window access to government for farmers and agri-business. BF