Features Fruit Production
Groups highlights concerns raised by Canada’s Auditor General

February 26, 2009, Ottawa, Ont. – Agricultural and landscaping groups
are hopeful Premier Dalton McGuinty will note the concerns raised by
Canada’s Auditor General and take steps to protect the province from
preventable economic and environmental losses.

February 26, 2009, Ottawa, Ont. – Agricultural and landscaping groups are hopeful Premier Dalton McGuinty will note the concerns raised by Canada’s Auditor General and take steps to protect the province from preventable economic and environmental losses.

“Canada’s Auditor General has identified that Canada could suffer significantly if invasive pests are not properly controlled,” said Bette Jean Crews, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). “Ontario farmers know that pest control is an important element of economic success for our sector and we are hoping that Premier McGuinty will finally see the validity of the concerns we are raising.

“The proposed regulations are not science-based and will discourage innovation, jeopardizing farmers’ ability to continue to produce a safe and affordable supply of healthy foods,” she added.

“The proposed regulations put Ontario farms at an increased risk of pest infestations from non-agricultural land and at the same time send a negative message to the public about the adequacy of the federal regulatory system,” said Richard Blyleven, a farmer and chair of Agricultural Groups Concerned about Resources and the Environment (AGCare). ”If farmers are going to successfully meet the challenge of feeding a growing world population, we need access to every tool in the toolbox. That includes today’s safe and effective crop protection products.”