More positives than negatives as far as the impact the provincial budget will have on the agricultural sector in Ontario.
That is the view of Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Betty Jean Crews.
She says while there was no mention of agriculture in the budget speech itself, it was addressed in the budget documents, and that is where it counts.
She also is pleased to see in this budget, Agriculture is now recognized as a key sector of the economy, and that is something the OFA has been trying to get the government to do for a number of years.
Crews says the 150 million dollar increase over in Agriculture spending, she is not sure if this new money or not.
However Crews is pleased with the announcement of a two billion dollar contingency fund that she hopes agriculture can tap into for such things as broadband coverage in rural areas or setting up new risk management programs.
Crews says one positive thing for agriculture in this budget was the retention of some on going multi year program that could have been cut, but were not.
She says that is a very positive thing.
