A Plan for Rural Ontario

Ontario government standing up for rural communities

Pickering-Uxbridge, ON – Ontario’s Government for the People is taking concrete measures to make Ontario open for business and help make life easier for people who live in rural communities and standing up for their interests.

The government is working with private gas distributors to expand natural gas service to more rural communities to provide farms, businesses, and families with affordable, reliable power.

“Prosperity must reach every corner of our province, and that includes making life better for the people of rural Ontario,” said MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Our government wants to send a clear signal that rural Ontario is open for business.”

A new Agriculture Task Force will help inform the government on how to grow the rural economy in Ontario and reduce the regulatory burden on the sector. The initiative complements the government’s commitment to reduce red tape by 25 per cent by 2022. Various initiatives to date have been aimed at addressing outdated or duplicative regulations affecting the agricultural sector.

“Our government will continue to stand up for farmers and farm workers in our supply-managed sectors, particularly as the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is finalized,” said MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy. “We will continue grow the economy and vigorously defend and advance Ontario’s economic interests in these discussions.”

Hydro rates are a top priority for the government as it continues to find ways to reduce bills for ratepayers across the province, including rural customers. To date, 758 expensive and unnecessary renewable energy contracts have been cancelled, saving ratepayers $790 million. The government has also reined in executive compensation at Hydro One.

 

Media Contacts:

Aleem Sufi
Constituency Office
(905) 509-0336
aleem.sufi@pc.ola.org

Hayden Kenez
Minister’s Office
(647) 282-2815
hayden.kenez@ontario.ca