|
Growing
the Ontario Cattle Industry Would be Good News for the Economy and for
Voters
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Release Economic Impact
Analysis of the Ontario Beef Industry and Public Opinion Research on
Voters attitudes towards the beef industry
May 29, 2007 (Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON)
– Today the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA)
released an economic impact analysis of the Ontario
cattle and beef industry that shows that growth in the
production of cattle could produce the same economic
benefits for Ontario as an additional car assembly
plant. OCA also released public opinion research that
shows that voters would support a government that
supports growing the production of beef in Ontario.
The economic impact analysis was conducted by the
Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics
at the University of Guelph. The findings of the study
show that cattle and beef production is an important
part of the economy of Ontario and Canada and that an
increase in the production or trade of cattle and beef
would have a net positive impact on job creation and
economic growth.
According to the study, the estimated
value of beef production in Ontario, using 2005 values,
is $1.2 billion and the total economic impact of the
beef sector in Ontario as measured by value-added gross
domestic product, or GDP is slightly over $736 million.
The cattle and beef sector also generated over 11
thousand jobs in Ontario during that time.
This study shows that a 50% increase in
the Ontario beef sector would generate over 6,000 new
jobs for Ontarians, more jobs than are generated by an
auto plant. This increase is possible using existing
infrastructure.
“The economic impact study showed what
those of us in the cattle and beef industry already
knew. The cattle and beef industries are major
contributors to the Ontario economy”, says Ian McKillop,
OCA President. “Any increase in investment in our
industry generates job, both on and off the farm.”
The public opinion research released
today was conducted by Innovative Research Group from
January 12 to January 18, 2007. The study surveyed 600
adults, 18 years of age or older, who were asked about
their opinions on issues impacting the Ontario beef
industry and the agriculture sector in general.
The key findings of the survey were:
-
Voters believe agriculture is a
viable ongoing part of the economy and strongly
believe in supporting the family farm.
-
Policy initiatives which help
farmers have wide-spread support.
-
Voters are likely to support parties
which are pro-agriculture.
-
Voters will reward governments that
support farmers.
“What we found was that 94% of voters
believe it is important to protect the family farm.
Three fifths of those surveyed believe agriculture is a
critical part of the economy,” McKillop adds. “We also
discovered that 81% of respondents support proposed
government initiatives to encourage growth of
value-added processing and almost three-quarters would
support a government initiative to substantially
increase beef production.”
The Ontario Cattlemen’s Association is a grassroots
organization, formed in 1963, that represents the
interests of Ontario’s 20,000 cattle producers.
-30-
For more information contact:
Ian McKillop, OCA President: (519) 868-4202
Lianne Appleby, OCA Communications Manager: (519)
824-0334 |
