Rural Ontarians deserve better: NDP

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, and the NDP Caucus, celebrated rural life and the contributions of Ontario's agricultural producers at the annual International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. Horwath said that rural Ontario families deserve access to better healthcare and education, relief from rising hydro bills and meaningful investment in rural jobs and the agricultural sector. 

'I want to thank every farmer, every farm family, and everyone who works in the agriculture sector for your hard work in helping to feed nearly 14 million Ontarians,' said Horwath. “Rural families deserve better access to healthcare and education, a break on sky high electricity bills, and real investment in rural jobs so that young people will have the opportunity to carry on the proud tradition of family farming right here in Ontario.' 

Ontario's agricultural sector is a vital part of our economy. To build a better future for our province, life needs to be more affordable for families and farmers. The NDP Leader called on the Liberal government to get electricity prices under control by stopping the sell-off of Hydro One.  She said that Premier Wynne must take immediate action to ease stifling regulations on mom and pop producers, to do more to bring locally grown food to an even bigger market,  to support the horse-racing industry, to invest in rural Ontario, and to make sure the next generation has access to good schools, good hospitals, good roads and transportation links.

“Life in rural Ontario has never been easy, but it shouldn’t be getting harder. It’s time for the Liberal government to invest in healthcare and education instead of cutting hospitals and closing rural schools,” said Horwath. “As we celebrate the rich farming heritage of our province, we need to do everything we can to give the next generation a great future here in rural Ontario.”