Oxford MP Hopefuls Say They Stand With Farmers

Wednesday, 30 September 2015 05:46

Some candidates for MP for Oxford came out to the farm families rally to hear farmers' concerns.

WOODSTOCK - Members of the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture gathered at our local MP's office to let him know their concerns about the potential Trans Pacific Partnership.

Some national media outlets have reported that the TPP deal could include an agreement to allow American milk to be imported into Canada. This obviously doesn't sit well with dairy farmers in Oxford who note we are more than capable of supplying high quality affordable milk right here in Canada. Dave MacKenzie was on hand to greet the farmers and told them not to believe everything they hear from the media.

"Well I'm very happy they were here, I have talked to Amy about it before and this was a meeting the OCFA wanted to have, because there is a lot of a misinformation and Amy wanted to gather people together, which we truly fully support, and address some of their concerns."

MacKenzie says the negotiations are ongoing and nothing has been decided and the government of Canada supports supply management.

Of course there is an election going on and the event also drew out some of the other candidates looking to become the MP of Oxford County. Don McKay who is representing the Liberal party tells Heart FM why he stopped by the event.

"Well I mean these are my friends, my community, people I have grown up with. I worked in the dairy industry for 20 years so it's great and not surprising that they are here because they sense that their future is at risk."

NDP candidate for Oxford County Zoe Kunschner was in attendance and tells Heart FM her party is the only party in this country firmly supporting supply management.

"And hopefully as the next MP of Oxford, these two industries are economic drivers of Oxford County and I will not let anybody try to undermine them without bringing the key stakeholders to the table with an open discussion."