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Photo: Cheryl Gallant, MP welcoming the first Hay East shipment with: Laura Lapinskie; Glenn Buck, Mennonite Disaster Service representative; Luke Martin, Ron McCoy, first farmer hay recipients; Cheryl Gallant, MP; Brian Hamilton, OFA member services representative.

Ottawa, Ontario – Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, in a question to Federal Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz, was pleased to confirm the Federal Government, in partnership with junior levels of government, was supporting Hay East by providing up to $3 million to help transport hay to those farmers in need. This announcement builds on an earlier tax deferral announcement for livestock producers in Ontario and Quebec.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Hay East 2012 – Hansard, November 5th, 2012.
Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Conservative):

Mr. Speaker, rain shortages, coupled with record high temperatures, have left many farmers in my riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke in the Ottawa valley and on both sides of the river, including the Pontiac and throughout Ontario, short of livestock feed.

Hay East 2012, a farmer and farm organization-led initiative, was created by western farm organizations that remember when eastern farmers sent hay west in 2002. We applaud the efforts of farmers, like Hay West organizer Wyatt McWilliams, for helping farmers today.

I am proud to say that the federal government, in partnership with Hay East and other levels of government, is providing $3 million to help transport hay to those farmers in need. This builds upon our government’s targeted tax deferral for livestock producers in Ontario and Quebec.
The rural Ontario Conservative caucus continues to stand up for farmers everywhere, assessing the needs of these provinces and considering every option under existing programs. A farmer-friendly Conservative MP is always a farmer’s best friend.

ORAL QUESTIONS

Agriculture and Agri-Food – Hansard, November 5th, 2012.

Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Conservative):

Mr. Speaker, this has been a difficult growing season for farmers in Ontario and Quebec. Lower crop yields due to reduced rainfall in certain areas have left farmers without enough feed for their livestock.
Earlier this summer, Hay East, a grassroots initiative to help transport hay from the west to Ontario and Quebec, was created. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to help farmers in Ontario and Quebec?

Hon. Gerry Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, Conservative):

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that our government is supporting Hay East. Governments are providing up to $3 million to help transport hay to those farmers in need. This builds upon our government’s robust suite of business risk management programs and our targeted tax deferral for livestock producers in Ontario and Quebec.

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