Ontario Green Party targets Patrick Brown in Simcoe North

Originally posted at http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5801537-ontario-green-party-targets-patrick-brown-in-simcoe-north/ on Monday August 17

NORTH SIMCOE – The Ontario Green Party has challenged Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown to promise to protect the province’s farmland and water.

Schreiner wants Brown to join him in signing the Food and Water First pledge, which calls on governments to protect prime farmland and source water regions.“We can’t eat subdivisions, quarries, highways or pipelines,” leader Mike Schreiner said during an Aug. 14 visit to Simcoe North. “Yet, to make way for them, prime farmland is disappearing at a rate of 350 acres per day.”

The Green leader was in the riding to support byelection candidate Valerie Powell. Together, they toured the organic community garden of Tiny Township residents Peter and Cheryl Stubbins.

“Food and farming are an incredibly important part of Simcoe North’s economy and lifestyle,” said Powell. “We don’t want our communities and livelihoods threatened by proposals such as the mega-development in Midhurst.”

Powell, who has also signed the Food and Water First pledge, urged her fellow candidates to do likewise before the Sept. 3 byelection.