What do you get when you put more than 500 Ontario farmers and agricultural stakeholders into a room together? If you’re a political leader on the brink of a provincial election call, you get a captive audience from some of the most influential ridings across the province.
This year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) will play host to Agriculture Minister Ted McMeekin, New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath, and Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak at its annual convention on November 19, 2012. The presence of these high profile speakers at OFA’s annual flagship event speaks to the importance of the farming community as an economic engine and an electorate, hailing from rural ridings across the province.
OFA prides itself on being a strong lobby organization that works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy development, community representation and media relations. The cornerstone of its work is the connection to Ontario’s policy makers – to work closely with political parties and to influence policy platforms. The attendance at the Annual General Meeting of the Minister and opposition leaders presents a great opportunity, in advance of a pending election to hear directly about how each party sees agriculture and its role in working with farm businesses.
The theme of the 2012 Annual General Meeting is Growing Ontario – Growing Better. Growing Ontario reflects what OFA members do and the vast potential of the farm sector to expand Ontario’s economy, its job base and rural communities.
On Monday, Nov. 19 the OFA conferene kicks off at the Doubletree by Hilton, Toronto International Airport, 655 Dixon Rd. Toronto, Ont, and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The conference concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 20 with a session from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
(with files from OFA)
Will the horse industry be
Will the horse industry be represented at this meeting?
Get Marty Adler some press
Get Marty Adler some press credentials and let him ask the questions that need to be asked on our behalf. He is a professional and very comfortable in front of a camera and passionate about our(and his) industry.We need SOMEONE there to ask the tough questions, especially of McMeekin.
This is an ideal opportunity
This is an ideal opportunity to get both the opposition leaders off the political fence and urge them to state what their official party positions are toward racing, the SAR program and the equine industry in general. We need to get representation from the racing industry on the agenda to emphasize the true facts as to how the cancellation of the SAR program is effecting the rural economy and also the livelihoods of 60,000 people and 13,000 horses. After all, this is in keeping with the main theme of this conference.... Growing Ontario-Growing Better.
Let's make sure that Hudak
Let's make sure that Hudak and Horwath have plenty of facts at their fingertips so when McMeekin puts his foot in it they are prepared.
Can someone make sure that
Can someone make sure that Horwath and Hudak have reams of factual data well in advance of this meeting? For example, how many races are contested with less than 4 horses? Or how many horses are actually registered amongst the three racing breeds in Ontario? Tell McMeekin that the rescue organizations are having to turn horses away, the horse camps are full, there are few capable homes left available for retirees? If they have the information directly. they can wipe the floor with him.
They can ask mr mcmeekin what
They can ask mr mcmeekin what exactly he does know about the racing industry. Questions like when and where he saw a four horse race going for 40000? How many horses get money in a standardbred race? You know easy questions that he should be able to answer if he knows anything at all.It is easy to duck questions when all your comments come from a newspaper.One more thing will the pc or the ndp reinstate the slots at racetrack program if elected YES or NO??? PS. Mr mcmeekin your job is likely coming to an end destroying this industry will only fast forword the inevitable.