Trudeau makes brief stop in region, visits Barrie Hill Farms

It was a busy day at a Barrie farm Wednesday as Canada's prime minister made a visit, grabbed some produce and discussed the issues facing the industry.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an unannounced stop at Barrie Hill Farms late yesterday and toured the grounds while speaking to surprised customers and staffers.

Farm owner Morris Gervais spoke with BarrieToday on Thursday and said he knew a few days beforehand about the PM's visit, saying he was happy to host the event.

"It’s not everyday you have the prime minister stopping by, that's for sure,” said Gervais, who said he knew a few days beforehand that the PM would be stopping by.

“It was a great day for us and the community," he said.

While Trudeau did grab some of the farm’s well-known strawberries, he also talked with customers for about an hour, said Gervais.

“He was very sociable and people seemed to really enjoy having him there,” said Gervais. “He went to our picnic area and chatted with folks about anything they wanted to discuss and really listened to what they were saying.”

But Gervais, a director of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (OFVGA), made sure to take advantage of having an audience with the prime minister.

“I had an opportunity to talk to him about the fertilizer tariff that was imposed on fertilizer coming out of Russia. While we at the OFVGA are supportive of sanctions against Russia, we needed to let him know it has been a significant financial hit on farmers this spring, and perhaps going forward,” said Gervais.

Gervais said he asked Trudeau to consider ways to help impacted farmers, such as a tax credit or other means.

“He didn’t ask many questions but that was only because he was really, truly listening. I felt he was taking it all in and trying to hear me out,” said Gervais. “I was very happy with the way the conversation went.”

Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman was also at the event Wednesday.

“I think he did about four or five events in the area and he was there yesterday to really talk to people and meet those from the area (to hear) about their thoughts and concerns,” said Lehman. “He was there for about an hour and then he left.”

Lehman said Trudeau was told not only about the concerns of farmers but also how well Barrie Hill Farms handled the pandemic restrictions.

“He was impressed with the switch they had made to the drive-thru asparagus section,” said Lehman. “Morris and his team are great ambassadors for farming in our area and their commitment to handling the pandemic is just one way they showed that.”

Lehman was also asked if he and the prime minister spoke about Lehman's recent narrow defeat in the Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte provincial election race.

“We did a little bit, but I don’t think I am going to talk about that conversation too much,” said Lehman. “The prime minister has always been supportive of me and I appreciated his kind words. I got to know the prime minister through my time as chair of the Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) and he just reaffirmed that he is always going to work with any government and with organizations such as the OBCM.”