The Ontario Federation of Agriculture not impressed with where agriculture fits into the latest federal budget.
On Soundingboard, The vice-president of the OFA Don McCabe says some of their specific requests to the government as it prepared the budget haven’t made it to the list of priorities.
McCabe says money in this budget is going to anything but covering off business risk management.
He says there is only 190-million dollars of new money in it and the rest will come from cuts within agriculture and agri-food Canada so he doesn’t know if any new ground is being gained here.
McCabe says another disappointment is no mention of a two-cent-per litre reduction in the federal excise tax on diesel fuel used by farmers.
He says it appears that plan is still in the government’s “to do” column.
McCabe says he welcomes the one billion dollar fund for Southern Ontario development but he reminds everyone the foundation for Southern Ontario is agriculture.
He says the business is the second largest industry and third largest employer.
McCabe warns you don’t need a service industry if you don’t take care of your primary resources.
