Local MPP's reinforced the province's boost to the Risk Management Program.
Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece were on hand at Monoway Farms south of Belgrave Friday to outline the plan to boost RMP funding by $50 million to $150 million.
The funding comes a year earlier than originally planned because of the unforeseen challenges farmers are facing.
Hardeman joined Thompson and Pettapiece on Friday.
“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,” said Hardeman. “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.”
MPP Randy Pettapiece is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
“Farmers in Perth-Wellington and across the province have been asking for an increase in the Risk Management Program for years and I’m glad we were able to deliver it for them,” he said. “This funding will make a difference for farm businesses in Ontario and I appreciate Minister Hardeman’s work in making it happen.”
About 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.
“I appreciate how Minister Hardeman has always been available to consider the local concerns of Huron-Bruce farmers. I value the fact that he, along with Parliamentary Assistant Randy Pettepiece, have come into this significant agricultural region to share the news of our government’s enhancement to the risk management program directly with local beef, pork and grain farmers”, said Thompson.
