Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2004

(OTTAWA) - The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and four opposition party agriculture critics have accepted an invitation from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) to publicly debate agriculture issues before an audience of farmers and media.

Bob Speller (Liberal), Gerry Ritz (Conservative), Dick Proctor (NDP), Louis Plamondon (Bloc Québécois) and Tom Manley (Green Party) will present their party agriculture policy platforms and debate questions posed by a panel of farm leaders at the event being held June 8 in Ottawa. The debate will be moderated by John Morriss, Editor and Publisher of the agriculture journal Farmers' Independent Weekly.

All media are invited to attend. Bob Friesen, CFA President, and other farmers and farm leaders will be available for interviews following the debate.

WHAT: FEDERAL ELECTION 2004 AGRICULTURE DEBATE With candidates Minister Bob Speller (Liberal), Gerry Ritz (Conservative), Dick Proctor (NDP), Louis Plamondon (Bloc Québécois) and Tom Manley (Green Party)

WHERE: Alumni Auditorium University Centre, University of Ottawa 85 University Ave. Ottawa

WHEN: June 8, 2004 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.