Ontario's Tories roll out rural strategy

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

photo: From left, Anthony MacDonald, Randy Pettapiece, Tim Hudak and Ernie Hardeman.

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

A Progressive Conservative government would privatize the running of slot machines, with part of the proceeds supporting the horse racing industry, says Tim Hudak, leader of the official opposition.

Hudak was flanked by agriculture critic Ernie Hardeman, local candidate Anthony MacDonald, a horse race driver himself, and another local MPP, Randy Pettapiece, as he announced the PC’s rural strategy called Paths to Prosperity, Respect for Rural Ontario, in a driveshed at Woodrill Farms east of Guelph Thursday.

Hudak, leader of the Ontario PC party, began a press conference by keying on cutting red tape, building a second food terminal for the province, and creating a two per cent mandate for biodiesel as planks in their next provincial election campaign.

But the discussion quickly turned to the horse racing industry as Hudak, a native of Fort Erie, where a race track is in jeopardy, launched an attack against the Liberal party and new Premier and Agriculture Minister Kathleen Wynne.

“You can’t build an industry around last minute handouts like you saw in Elora the other day,” said Hudak, referring to Wynne’s announcement last week.

“For goodness sake, when you have 600,000 people who have no job to go to in the province of Ontario, why would you toss another 65,000 out of work by closing down the race track slots.”

Anthony MacDonald says he is running for a seat in the Legislature because of the cancellation of slots at racetracks program. “I saw people in my own community, people I respected leaving,” said MacDonald.  “My own brother went to New York to race.

“The number one tool for gaming in the province was the slots at race track program and no one seems to know why it was cancelled.”

photo: Randy Pettapiece and Tim Hudak

Back on mainstream agriculture: Hudak cited regulations he says hamper provincially inspected abattoirs.

Hardeman says surveys show the main concern of farmers, processors and agri-business is red tape preventing them from expanding and hiring more people. On average, each business spends “the equivalent of 154 days a year” filling out forms and paper for the provincial government.

“If my Cabinet does not at least exceed that 33 per cent (reduction in red tape) I will dock their pay, and my pay as premier as well,” said Hudak. He also pledged to make the ministry of agriculture a “one window access” to government for farmers, regardless of which ministry’s regulations are involved.

If elected, the PCs will mandate two per cent biofuel in diesel in the province. According to Hardeman, there is a national mandate of two per cent across the country but biodiesel is produced and used in other provinces.

How much biodiesel would this involve? The PC leaders were unable to say; however, Grain Farmers of Ontario chairman Henry Van Ankum, Alma who was present at the announcement says it would require 150-200 million litres of biofuel annually.

“This is a policy that also helps unite us as a province,” Hudak says. “It is a win-win,” using “waste products that would otherwise go into landfill.”

The PCs also promised to:

• Modernize Agricorp’s computer systems to make it more efficient and save farmers money. (Agricorp runs crop insurance and other programs for Ontario’s farmers)
• Support local food by increasing the amount purchased by “the broader public sector” including a “comprehensive” Ontario Food Act, and also allowing wine makers and craft brewers to sell their products at places other than the LCBO and The Beer Store.
• Wind down the non-competitive Feed-in Tariff program and subject all future wind and solar projects to demand assessment, competitive bidding and local approval.
• Increase consultations in rural Ontario
• Turn schools into community hubs
• Distribute a portion of the gas tax to rural municipalities to rebuild their infrastructure
• Work to encourage younger people to stay involved in agriculture.

In a statement released nearly simultaneously with the press conference, Premier Kathleen Wynne said “The new Ontario government is committed to working together to secure a prosperous future for our rural and agricultural communities. We are pleased the PCs agree with this important priority.” BF