Ontario Grain & Oilseed Crisis Update (March 29, 2005)
What we need:
The Ontario Grain & Oilseed Group is committed to working with government to meet
our three needs for the short, medium and long-term success of Ontario's distressed
grain & oilseed industry. We need a $300 million immediate cash infusion to make
up the shortfall between anticipated revenues from all sources and mounting costs
for the 2005 crop.
The Ontario government must implement an adequately funded, effective replacement program for Market Revenue Insurance (MRI).
Refinements must be made to CAIS to make it more effective.
What we've done:
Representatives from the Ontario Grain & Oilseed Group have made an intensive
effort to meet with MPPs to discuss our needs. Thank you to the following MPPs
who have taken the time to meet with us already:
Ted Arnott
Brad Duguid
Carol Mitchell
Laurie Scott
John Baird
Garfield Dunlop
Bill Murdoch
Hon. Greg Sorbara
Hon. Rick Bartolucci
Howard Hampton
John O'Toole
Maria Van Bommel
Jim Brownell
Ernie Hardeman
Hon. Sandra Pupatello
John Wilkinson
Hon. Marie Bountrogianni
Pat Hoy
Dr. Shafiq Qaadri
Jim Wilson
Donna Cansfield
Linda Jeffrey
Ontario Rural Caucus
Kathleen Wynne
Hon. David Caplan
Jeff Leal
Ernie Parsons
Senior Advisors to
Ted Chudleigh
Dave Levac
Hon. Steve Peters
Management Board
Bruce Crazier
Phillip McNeely
Sandra Pupatello
Senior OMAF staff
Caroline DiCocco
Deb Mathews
Kamil Ramal
Senior Staff in the
Hon. Leona Dombrosky
John Milloy
Lou Rinaldi
Premier's Office
Ted McMeekin
Summary:
To date, growers meeting with MPPs are reporting a sympathetic response to the
grain & oilseed industry's current crisis situation. MPPs are acknowledging
the farm income crisis, and are grateful to farmers for taking the initiative
to meet with them personally to explain the situation and share their personal
stories. They have noted that their awareness of the farm income crisis grows
stronger with each producer who visits them. MPPs - in both rural and urban
areas - have encouraged the Grain & Oilseed Group to put particular emphasis
on seeking meetings with urban MPPs to carefully explain the situation to them.
Next Steps:
The Ontario Grain & Oilseed Group has scheduled a 'lobby day' at Queen's Park
in late March. Grain & oilseed representatives have scheduled numerous meetings
with MPPs throughout the day, taking advantage of the opportunity to meet with
these key decision-makers from across the province while they are at Queen's
Park to sit in legislative assembly. In the evening the grains & oilseed industry
will host a reception for MPPs and invited guests as an opportunity to informally
discuss the grain & oilseed industry in a comfortable, environment.
What producers can do:
Our message has been heard by many MPPs, but it is vital that Ontario grain
& oilseed producers keep the pressure on our government. We encourage growers
to meet with MPPs, and visit the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)'s website
at www.ofa.org for templates to help planning these meetings. Growers can also
visit the website for every grain & oilseed organization to obtain a copy of
the grain & oilseed position paper. Producers can also write letters to the
editor of the publications you read, and phone in to the radio stations you
listen to - particularly local and national urban media. Help correct misinformation
and tell your own story about how this farm income crisis is affecting you.
Ontario Grains and Oilseed Groups:
Ontario White Bean Producers' Marketing Board
Ontario Canola Growers' Association
Ontario Coloured Bean Growers' Association
Ontario Corn Producers' Association
Ontario Soybean Growers
Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board
Seed Corn Growers of Ontario