Believe in Growing Ontario

Tuesday, 27 May 2014 18:48

Mark Wales, (pictured) is President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture

OFA canvassing to get the support of every party candidate in every riding in the province on agricultural issues.

SOUTH-WEST OXFORD -- A special visit came to Tuesday from the President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Mark Wales says the OFA's "Believe in Growing Ontario" campaign focuses on affordable energy for farmers, agri-skills training, property taxation and food literacy.

His visit to Oxford this week is putting him in touch with parties involved in the current provincial election with the hope of getting them to sign the OFA's pledge...

"We're contacting all of the candidates in all of the ridings, both urban and rural getting them to sign a pledge to support 'Growing Ontario.' Of course our County Federations across the province have been busy doing all candidates meetings there were some last week and there are some this week and there are some more happening next week."

Wales says he's also trying to get an commitment from all of the provincial party leaders to hold a debate on agricultural issues facing Ontario. He says if all parties can agree, we could see such a debate during the last week leading up to the election.

"We're trying to get a televised debate on agriculture and rural issues and we still haven't had a commitment from the party leaders as of yet. We're still in the planning stages, so that will be probably after the fifth of June."

Wales says getting a commitment from all parties to get natural gas to more rural areas of Ontario, in addition to addressing needs for further investment to rural infrastructure are paramount this election.

He also says parties should be focusing on local food initiatives and better access to agricultural skills training.

Wales adds there's plenty of job opportunities for young people in agriculture -- with two jobs waiting for every graduate out of a two-year degree program, and at least three jobs waiting for every grad from the degree program at The University of Guelph.