MacDonald, Liberals launch rural platform

Improving municipal infrastructure and public services, especially in areas such as municipal drainage infrastructure, continuing to reverse the reckless PC downloads that put our rural communities at risk;

Continuing to bring more healthy, locally grown food to families through our commitment to promote local foods through key initiatives, such as The Foodland Ontario program, The Ontario Farmers’ Markets Strategy, and ongoing collaboration with Ontario’s retail and food service sectors;

Increasing support, through our Rural Economic Development Program, for agri-food businesses that have created and kept more than 15,000 jobs and generated nearly $500 million in economic activity across the province;

Making the Eastern Ontario Development Fund permanent, and creating a new Southwestern Ontario Economic Development Fund to help communities attract the jobs of tomorrow;

Creating a new Specialist High Skills Major in food processing in all Ontario schools, helping build skills in food and agriculture;

Supporting supply management in international trade talks and fighting for its place in the Canadian farming community;

Keeping our commitment to clean energy, that’s creating 50,000 jobs and has already provided opportunities for 20,000 farmers who have applied for MicroFIT contracts �" with almost 11,000 already turning on cleaner sources of power like wind and solar.

“These are uncertain times for the global economy. These are challenging times for our rural families. This is our plan to help. This is our way forward, together,” Mark A. MacDonald said.

The Hudak PCs have a $14 billion hole in their platform - that means downloads and deep cuts that will put our economy, education and health care at risk. The Horwath NDP would introduce a crushing $9 billion in taxes on our job creating businesses. The opposition would create chaos and conflict at a time when Ontario needs certainty.

The full rural platform is available at www.theontarioway.ca.