Grain Farmers of Ontario wraps up tractor cab town halls

GUELPH, ON (June 9, 2014) – Grain Farmers of Ontario has successfully completed its series of three Tractor Cab Telephone Town Halls.

Jeff Leal, Liberal candidate for Peterborough, and the Party’s Minister of Rural Affairs at the time the election was called, joined the Town Hall discussion on Friday, June 6. Farmers then heard from NDP Agriculture Critic John Vanthof, candidate for Timiskaming-Cochrane, on Monday, June 9. We would like to thank both Leal and Vanthof and their respective parties for participating in this important exercise.

“These Tractor Cab Telephone Town Halls helped us to understand each party’s position on agriculture and specifically hear their position on the key priorities we have identified for Smart Growth,” says Henry Van Ankum, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “They allowed our farmer-members to become involved in the election process without stopping their work in the field.”

Grain Farmers of Ontario would like to thank Progressive Conservative candidate, Ernie Hardeman, Liberal Candidate, Jeff Leal, and NDP candidate, John Vanthof for participating in the series of Tractor Cab Town Halls and answering questions from farmer members across the province.

More details on the Tractor Cab Telephone Town Halls and Grain Farmers of Ontario’s recommendations for Smart Growth can be found at www.gfo.ca/GovernmentRelations.    

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Contact:

Barry Senft, CEO – 1-800-265-0550; bsenft@gfo.ca

Henry Van Ankum, Chair – 519-835-4200; henryvanankum@sympatico.ca

Meghan Burke, Communications – 519 767-2773; mburke@gfo.ca