McGuinty Government Promotes Agricultural Awareness

Funding Supports Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Queen's Park - The McGuinty government is helping the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (The Royal) support and promote agricultural awareness, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky announced today.

"The Royal is a great opportunity for people who live and work in rural Ontario to showcase their skills and talent in an urban setting," said Dombrowsky. "The McGuinty government is pleased to support an organization that promotes agricultural awareness in Ontario, across the country and across the world."

The government is providing a total of $140,000 to The Royal to help it promote and support agriculture innovation and food production, and to increase agricultural awareness. Today's funding announcement is part of a one-year Memorandum of Understanding signed by the province and the organization.

This year marks the 84th year of this annual event which takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, from November 3 to 12, 2006. The Royal is considered to be the largest combined indoor agricultural, horticultural, canine and equestrian event in the world, attracting an international array of exhibitors and competitors.

"The Royal applauds the Government of Ontario for recognizing the important contribution this event makes in showcasing the quality breeding, growing and processing practices of all who are involved with Ontario agriculture and food production," said Bill Duron, chief executive officer of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. "These funds enable us to promote Ontario agriculture to over 300,000 people attending the fair and millions more through the media."

The funding for this organization is one of the ways the McGuinty government is on the side of rural families. Other initiatives include:

• Providing $910 million over the past three years for farm income stabilization and support programs, including $110 million in new provincial funding announced at this year's International Plowing Match
• Investing more than $26 million in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development program
• Contributing, with the Government of Canada, up to $298 million to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) over five years to improve and renew public infrastructure. The province announced an additional $75 million for rural infrastructure at the International Plowing Match.

"The Royal continues to be an important part of Ontario's history," said Dombrowsky. "I congratulate The Royal for its many contributions to agriculture and rural communities in the province, and I look forward to this year's fair."

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Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
416-326-3072

Brent Ross
Communications Branch
416-326-9342