Interview With Local MPP and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman

Friday, 17 July 2020 at 11:34

Minister Hardeman joined Cody Hayward this morning to talk about a major announcement he made yesterday with the Premier for farmers in Chatham and he also talked about Bill 197, which will have a third reading on Monday.

OXFORD COUNTY - Local MPP and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman joined Premier Doug Ford for a major announcement for farmers yesterday in Chatham.

Speaking at Craven Farms, they announced an expansion to the Risk Management Program a year earlier than planned by $50 million for a total of $150 million annually. Premier Doug Ford says this funding supports farmers with unforeseen challenges such as fluctuating market prices, extreme weather events like flooding or drought, and disease.

"Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with our farmers during these unprecedented times. As we chart a path to recovery, we will be there for our farmers and their workers to help them continue to put food on our tables. We committed to expanding this program in Year 3 of our mandate, but we are delivering on that commitment a year earlier than promised to provide more stability, income security and peace of mind for farmers, which is long overdue. I'm proud to say promise made, promise kept."

Minister Hardeman says approximately 80 per cent of eligible commercial production in the cattle, hog, sheep, veal, grains and oilseeds, and edible horticulture sectors in Ontario is covered by the provincial Risk Management Program.

"We know farmers face tremendous pressures and uncertainties including reduced processing capacity, increased costs and volatile markets. After listening to feedback from the farming sector, that is why we are accelerating our promise to increase the Risk Management Program to $150 million by one year. We're committed to providing our farmers with added support at this time and advocating on their behalf with the federal government to help them continue doing their critical work of producing safe, nutritious food for our kitchen tables."

Minister Hardeman joined Cody Hayward this morning for an exclusive interview where he talked about yesterday's announcement and he also talked about Bill 197, which will give municipalities a right to deny landfills.

You can listen to the interview from this morning below.