Farmers Now Paying Massive Tire Eco-fees

QUEEN’S PARK – Today in a statement in the Ontario Legislature Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP and PC Critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, called on the government to reverse the increases to eco-fees on agricultural tires which went into effect on April 1, 2013.

“The government approved fees that will download millions onto farmers with no consultation or understanding of the impact on our rural economy,” said Hardeman. “The Premier acknowledged the problem weeks ago, she could have fixed it but instead on April 1 the new fees went into effect and every day farmers across Ontario are getting hit with massive fees.”

The new fees classify agricultural tires as off the road and the rates range from $5.88 to $1311.24 per tire. Hardeman said he had received hundreds of emails and calls from farmers concerned about the new costs.

Hardeman told the Legislature that over the constituency week he and his colleagues had met with numerous farmers. “They are frustrated that once again this government has implemented policy that negatively impacts them with no consultation.”

The new eco-fees for tires on a Maxxum-110 tractor are $423.36, up from $61.16. The eco-fees for tires for a 9300 John Deere are now $729.12, up from $61.15. The new fees for tires for a John Deere 9770 combine are $1,644.40, up from $91.74.

The PC Party has rolled out a new plan that holds manufacturers and importers of tires responsible for recycling, but will give them the freedom to work with other businesses to find the best way possible to carry out that responsibility.

“Our farmers need a Minister of Agriculture who will stand up for them,” said Hardeman during the statement. “They need a government that will consult with them before making polices that impact them and cost them millions and they need these massive increases in the cost of agricultural tires reversed.”

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For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239