March 05, 2009

 

 

New Sarum, ON~ March 4, 2009 : Today, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz sat down with Ontario farmers to get their input on agriculture policies and to let to them know about programs the Government of Canada is delivering for farm families. Joe Preston hosted the roundtable discussion at the New Sarum Diner on Wednesday.

“This Government always puts Farmers First when we build agriculture policies and we want to hear from folks on the ground to make sure what we’re doing works for them,” said Minister Ritz. “The farmers in Elgin Middlesex London told us they need programs that hit the target for Canadian farm families and new opportunities to market their products at home and around the world.

Minister Ritz explained Government initiatives delivered in Canada’s Economic Action Plan that is designed to help farmers succeed in a time of global recession. They included:

• A $500 million agricultural flexibility program to invest in marketing, innovation, and environmental projects,
• Emergency loans of up to $400,000, with the first $100,000 interest free with an extra year before those loans come due,
• Tax relief for farm families; and,
• Improved credit access for new farmers.

“When this Government is putting together agriculture programs we go to the experts and those are the farmers we met with around the table today,” said Joe Preston, MP.

This was one of seven roundtable discussions being held across Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta.