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Beefing Up the Agenda at Queen's Park
June 8, 2009 (Guelph,
ON) – Representatives of the Board of Directors of the
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) were in Toronto
last Thursday for their 6th Annual Queen’s
Park Barbecue on the front lawn of the Legislature. The
barbecue, which has become one of the most highly
anticipated events with MPPs and their staff, is the
pinnacle of a consistent provincial lobby effort on
behalf of Ontario beef producers. And, this year, the
event drew much media coverage as Premier Dalton
McGuinty attended to show his support of the sector.
Ontario cattlemen have
enjoyed alliances with all three parties over the years,
and were pleased that The Honourable Leona Dombrowsky,
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,
again took part in serving beef to the over 600 barbecue
guests. As well this year, Bob Runciman, Interim Leader
of the Ontario PC Party and the Official Opposition,
took a turn in slicing the beef, as did Andrea Horwath,
Ontario NDP Leader.
Gord Hardy, OCA
President, was pleased with the turnout and also
delighted with the individual meetings that OCA
representatives were able to hold with MPPs during the
morning.
“Our organization exists
to lobby and communicate on behalf of producers and this
barbecue and lobby day has become our flagship event at
the Legislature. We’re always glad to be able to meet
one-on-one with our elected representatives during the
day, to engage them in our issues and reiterate our
industry’s needs. The barbecue serves to show that
while we continue to ask for support, we’re grateful for
the ongoing attention we do receive. It also helps us to
showcase the outstanding beef we produce in this
province!”
OCA’s messaging included
the outstanding request for a $20 million dollar pilot
ledger account program for the Ontario Corn-Fed Beef
program. It also restated recommended changes to
AgriStability (the current national Business Risk
Management program for farmers), to make it more useful
to beef producers and a request for interest-free loans
to young farmers. Like other agriculture sectors, the
beef industry is facing challenges with an increasing
average age of producers and a lack of young farmers who
are willing or able to get into the business.
“Our industry has had its share of
challenges over the last few years,” says Hardy. “But we
know that our contribution to the Ontario economy is
significant. Beef farming contributes as much to the
Ontario economy as an automotive plant. We cannot
continue to lose farmers. We need programs that work for
us if we are to be a sustainable and profitable
industry. I hope that while people enjoyed our product,
our messages were also heard.”
The Ontario
Cattlemen’s Association is a grassroots organization,
formed in 1963, that represents the interests of
Ontario’s 19,000 cattle producers.
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For more information
contact:
Gord Hardy, OCA
President: (519) 227-1113
Lianne Appleby, OCA Communications Manager: (519)
824-0334 |
