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Posted on: July 30th, 2010 at 15:57:52
For immediate Release
July 30, 2010
RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM EXTENSION A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF ONTARIO’S FAMILY FARMERS
McGuinty government’s decision to continue RMP for grain and oilseed producers will protect Canada’s food supply and help rural communities thrive
GUELPH, ON (July 30, 2010) – Ontario’s 28,000 grain and oilseed farmers welcome today’s announcement by the Ontario government extending the Risk Management Program (RMP) for another year. As a three-year pilot project first announced by the McGuinty government in the Fall of 2007, RMP has allowed grain and oilseed farmers to plan for the future by providing a business risk management insurance model that protects participating farmers against low world prices caused by international agricultural subsidies.
“This is a great day for Ontario farmers as without the Ontario government’s leadership through RMP, we would be losing farms, and losing important food production that helps employ 40,000 Ontarians,” said Leo Guilbeault, Chair of the Ontario Grains & Oilseeds. “RMP is a simple, cost-effective solution to a complex problem that works. It is time that the federal government realized that this solution can be applied to all sectors, in all provinces, where there is a need to protect farmers against global farm subsidies and other problems beyond their control.”
It is now up to the federal government to follow the leadership of Premier Dalton McGuinty and Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell, and become a full partner in a cost-shared program that is crucial to protecting the viability of the family farm.
“For the past three years, RMP has stood as an example of how cost-shared, insurance-based business risk management programs can provide long-term benefits to farmers, ,” said Don Kenny, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “Thanks to the leadership of the Ontario government and to Minister Carol Mitchell, RMP stands out as an example of how great things can be achieved when industry and government work together, sharing the risks … and sharing the rewards,” concluded Mr. Kenny.
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Contact:
Leo Guilbeault, Chair of Grains and Oilseeds at (519) 796-2289
Don Kenny, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario at (613) 831-2654
Erin Fletcher at Ontario Grains and Oilseeds at (519) 767-4137
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