Farm fight: Liberal candidate blasts budget reduction
Commonscomesfromthe$250millionbeing
newsroom@eap.on.ca
MP Pierre Lemieux has countered that
marketpriceinsuranceprograminthewest,
taken out of Business Risk Management
the aid allocation is lower because farmers
O TTAWA
or a Buy Atlantic program in the east.
programs and $150 million in agricultural
needlesshelpandthecriticismmerelyshows
She notes that there are 1,052 farms in
research. “These are critical investments
that Liberals know nothing about farming.
PrescottandRussellalone,accordingtothe
Farmers are getting hard hit by the
neededtomakeourfarmersmoresuccessful,”
Bourgeois says in a statement she does
2006 Census; their total value exceeds a
federal government’s Agriculture Canada
she adds. “It is time for the farmers of this
know that the Harper government’s
billion dollars and they cover an area of
budget reduction, claims Glengarry-
country to be the onesworking on the design
intention will have a negative impact on
93,979 hectares. In North-Glengarry, there
Prescott-Russell Liberal candidate Julie
of the programs necessary to sustain
farmers in the riding. She is convinced the
are 343 farms valued together at more than
Bourgeois.
them. The Liberal Party has made it clear we
Conservatives “are trying to balance their
$263 million, while they cover an area of
She says she is “deeply concerned that
are prepared to build the kinds of business
budgetonthebacksoffarmers”inGlengarry-
22,532 hectares. “Glengarry-Prescott-
Harper’s Conservatives have given up on
risk management programs farmers in all
Prescott-Russell and elsewhere in Canada.”
Russell’s 2,150 farmers, who average 51
their promise of putting farmers first by
regions of this country require to meet their
The Liberal hopeful says that the most
years old, will tell you that they want to
proposing a $418-million cut to Agriculture
needs.”BourgeoiscommentsthattheLiberals
serious impact from the cuts in the 2011-
continue farming, but that they need help
Canada’s budget.”
have committed to farmers that agricultural
2012 Main Estimates tabled in the House of
when times are tough or other unforeseen
policy has to come from the farm up, not
circumstances. Theymust be able to rely on
Ottawa down. Liberals have committed to
their elected representatives in Ottawa at
develop a national food policy and put the
Liberals don't get it: MP
all times.”
flex back in Agriflex, as farmers have asked
“Once out of the main urban centres of
for. This means federal funding that can be
Cumberland, Rockland, Hawkesbury and
newsroom@eap.on.ca
situation of farmers.
used for practical programs on the ground
Alexandria, it’s easy to understand how
O TTAWA
“Averagefarmnetworthisup44percent
such as the Risk Management Program in
much of the region’s economy relies on
over five years. Crop yields have been
Ontario, the Assurance stabilisation des
agriculture and rural communities. All our
excellent. Grain and oil seed prices are high,
revenus agricoles (ASRA) in Québec, an
Liberal candidate Julie Bourgeois’
smallvillagesneedtheirfarmingneighbours
pork and beef prices are up, our Agriculture
improved crop insurance or a livestock
criticism of a drop in Agriculture Canada
to be sustainable,” she says.
Minister has opened numerous foreign
funds shows she does not comprehend
marketstoourfarmersandourConservative
farming, says Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
programsareworking,”commentsLemieux.
MP Pierre Lemieux.
“Farmers are doing better now than they
Lastweek,thefederalgovernmenttabled
have in a very long time! Surely this is good
itsMainEstimatesintheHouseofCommons,
news. It’s unfortunate that the Liberals have
and in doing so, indicated that within
takenthisgoodnewsforfarmersandturned
agriculture, next year’s government
it into bad news.”
expensesareexpectedtobe$418millionless
With respect to lower Main Estimates in
than was anticipated a year ago.
agricultural research, Lemieux says that a
Thegovernmentexpectsfarmerstodraw
number of programs are expected to expire
less on government assistance programs as
this year, such as programming to fight the
a result of their stronger financial position
Plum Pox virus and Circovirus. “These
andthus,theEstimatesareloweronBusiness
programsdidtheirjobsandtheyhavesimply
Risk Management programming.
come to their natural end.”
“When farmers do better, they need less
Lemieux referred to a January 2011 Farm
government assistance,” says the
Credit Canada Survey that found that:
Conservative MP.
· 66% of farmers said that they are better
Lemieux, who is also the Parliamentary
off now than they were five years ago
Secretary for Agriculture, says the Main
· 81% of livestock producers stated that
Estimates reflect the improving financial
they will be better off in the next five years
· 80% are more likely to recommend a
career in agriculture or a related field to
Conférence forestière Boisé 2011 Le samedi 2 avril 2011 de 8 h 30 à 15 h 30 Complexe J.R. Brisson Casselman
friends and family.
Lemieux comments that these types of
resultshaveoccurredundertheConservative
government and that farmers know that
“when it comes to Conservatives and
agriculture, farmers come first.”
Lemieux criticized the Liberals for
wanting to raise business taxes.
Vous aimeriez connaître l’état des forêts dans la région de Prescott-Russell, ou encore en savoir davantage sur les avantages économiques, les plans d’aménagement, l’impact du changement climatique sur nos forêts ou sur les crédits de carbone? Vous désirez connaître le rôle de la forêt urbaine dans la protection du couvert forestier? Eh bien, si ces sujets retiennent votre attention, cette conférence forestière s’adresse à vous! Frais d’inscription : 10 $ à l’avance ou 15 $ payable à l’entrée (donne droit au repas et à une trousse d’information). Vous inscrire avant le 20 mars 2011 auprès de l’Intendance environnementale de Prescott- Russell, C.P. 430, 31, rue St-Paul, Alfred, ON, K0B 1A0, par téléphone au 613 679-0936 ou par courriel à l’adresse suivante : suzanne.lafrance@ontario.ca.
Submitted photo
“The Liberals don’t understand
Glengarry-Prescott-RussellMPPierreLemieuxandhiswifeAudreywithJasonKenney
agriculture well. Their plan to increase
at the fifth Spring Gala organized by the Conservative federal riding association.
business taxes by $6 billion will definitely
hurtbusinessesacrosstheriding–including
"We don’t want an election"
farmers.Farmsarebusinessesandtheydon’t
need to suffer under a tax increase,” the MP
Pakistanwherehehadattendedthefuneral
declares.
newsroom@eap.on.ca
of his friend and colleague, Pakistani
“As MP and as the Parliamentary
W ENDOVER
Minister Shahbaz Bhatti who had been
Secretary for Agriculture, I have the great
assassinated earlier in the week.
privilege of working with farmers in my
Lemieux said that, since being elected in
Pierre Lemieux insists he does not want
riding and across the country. They know
2006, the Conservative government has
to return to the campaign trail. However,
that I am working hard to ensure that they
invested more than $130 million in federal
the
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
succeed.”
fundinginroads,bridges,arenas,businesses
Conservative MP says he is prepared to
andculturalactivitiesinGlengarry-Prescott-
campaignagainifthegovernmentfallsafter
Don’t let your dog
Russell.
the new federal budget is presentedMarch
“This type of investment is
22.
chase deer
unprecedented and has never happened
“We don’t want an election. We are the
before in the history of our riding. The
government, we are happy being the
newsroom@eap.on.ca
Prime Minister and our Conservative
government and Canadians are happy with
The Ontario Ministry of Natural
government believe in our riding and these
us being the government and with our
Resources reminds dog owners that it is
investments are improving the quality of
initiatives,” says Lemieux. “But I am ready. I
illegal and dangerous to allow dogs to run
life of our residents, attract business and
have a solid and committed campaign team
loose and chase deer during the non-
make GPR a place we are proud to call
– we will hit the ground running andwe will
hunting season.
home,” the MP said.
execute a well organized, effective, high
The ministry points out that it is very
intensity campaign to win Glengarry-
difficult for deer to run in deep snow or on
Prescott-Russell.”
ice. A deer chased by a dog can be injured,
SNC meeting
First elected in 2006, Lemieux was re-
become exhausted or die.
elected in 2008.
newsroom@eap.on.ca
Dog owners are urged to keep their dogs
He spoke about the probability of another
F INCH
leashed or in enclosures to ensure the safety
election during
his fifth Spring Gala in
of both dogs and deer. Under the Fish and
Wendover.
Wildlife Conservation Act, it is illegal to let
Don Pearson, General Manager of
The sell-out soirée was emceed by Bobby
a dog run off leash in an area inhabited by
Conservation Ontario, will be the guest
Lalonde and featured entertainment by the
deer, moose, elk or bear during the closed
speaker at the SouthNationConservation
Sons of Scotland pipe and drums band.
hunting season.
annualmeetingMarch24at1p.m.inFinch.
Guest speaker Jason Kenney, Minister of
Under this legislation, the ministry’s
The election of a new board chair and
Citizenship,
Immigration
and
conservationofficersmaychargedogowners
vicechairisalsoontheagenda.RSVPbefore
Multiculturalism, demonstrated his
and are authorized to destroy dogs found
Thursday, March 17 by phoning 1-877-984-
commitment to Lemieux’s fundraiser by
chasing deer if they cannot be called off the
2948, or by emailing info@nation.on.ca.
travelling to Wendover from Islamabad,
pursuit.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs