(Queen’s Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop said today that the Liberal Cabinet Ministers most accountable to the people of Ontario for agriculture escaped Queen’s Park today to avoid facing thousands of protesting farmers.

“It’s clear to me that Premier Dalton McGuinty, Agriculture Minister Steve Peters and Finance Minister Greg Sorbara ducked today’s Question Period, so they wouldn’t be held accountable for ignoring farmers,” said Dunlop. “Since the McGuinty government was elected in October 2003, they’ve done absolutely nothing for Ontario’s farmers, except whine to their federal Liberal cousins in Ottawa for more money.”

Organized by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the largest agricultural protest in the history of Queen’s Park took place today at the Ontario legislative building. Farmers from across the province arrived in busloads to peacefully protest the lack of action by the McGuinty government on issues affecting Ontario’s agricultural community.

The Premier and 11 of his Ministers either did not attend today’s Question Period, or were late. During Question Period, Opposition Members question the Premier and Cabinet Ministers on their decisions during an hour-long session in the Ontario legislature.

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)