Thursday, June 4, 2020

GFO ad lets Ford off the hook

Grain Farmers of Ontario is letting Ontario Premier Doug Ford off the hook with its second attack ad accusing the federal government of neglecting farmers.

In the second ad, it says Ford is lobbying the federal government on behalf of Ontario farmers, pleading for help similar to what’s available to competing farmers in the United States.

The GFO ad asks if the federal government wants to leave the food supply in the hands of U.S. agriculture where farmers are getting $22 billion while the Canadian government is increasing taxes – an apparent reference to the carbon tax.

There are reports that grain buyers are asking Ontario farmers to change delivery dates to later months for production contracts they hold.

That could leave processors short of Ontario grain and shopping for what they need in the U.S., according to GFO president Markus Haerle.