NDP: Ontario jobs, farms on the line as Ford passes the buck

Ford government plays the blame game while other provinces take action

QUEEN’S PARK – Doug Ford would rather pass the buck and point fingers than help Ontario’s manufacturing and agriculture sectors overcome punitive tariffs and the slow death of supply management — which threatens generations of family farms, says Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath.

Under the newly-negotiated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaces NAFTA, dairy farmers will take a hit. The new agreement also fails to address the steep and punitive tariffs currently being charged on steel and aluminum. With thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in economic activity, and many of Ontario’s family farms at risk, Horwath raised the issue with Doug Ford for a second day on Tuesday, asking why Ford is passing the buck and refusing to help, while Quebec steps up to provide support to its people.

“Steep tariffs on aluminum and steel have been in place since June, and they’re threatening to take a painful toll – not just on the steel industry, but on the entire manufacturing sector, and on the people who rely on it for good jobs,” said Horwath.

“They’re worried about the future. Across the border in Quebec, the provincial government didn’t delay: they stepped up in June with direct financial aid for companies affected by the tariffs.”

While the USMCA threatens to undermine supply management in Canada — a system that has allowed for a stable agriculture sector and food supply across the country for over 50 years — Ford also refused to allow for the possibility that Ontario’s farmers could expect Ontario to be involved in support, even transitional support, to ensure their long-term stability.

“For those farmers who have relied on supply management to ensure they can earn a living and pay the bills while they do the hard work of feeding our families, the re-negotiated NAFTA is devastating news,” said Horwath.

“Some farm families are wondering whether they can continue or if they’ll need to pack it in. They need to see this government take swift action, including financial assistance and a plan to ensure Ontario farms are sustainable in the long-term.”

Horwath says that while Ford’s much-lauded trip to Washington obviously failed to move the needle on trade negotiations, he can step up now with support for Ontario workers and Ontario industries.

“It’s not acceptable that the federal government used dairy farmers as a bargaining chip in these negotiations,” said NDP Deputy Leader and Agriculture critic John Vanthof. “But Ontario’s dairy farmers need a leader that offers solutions instead of just criticisms.”

“People worried about losing their livelihoods don’t want to hear politicians blaming each other and passing the buck,” said Horwath. “In Québec, the government stepped up with direct financial aid and money for transition training. The people of Ontario deserve no less.”