It doesn't look like Grain Farmers of Ontario is going to get it's extension of the deadline for comments on the provincial neonic regulations.
GFO Chair Mark Brock says they are still waiting for a formal response to their request.
However, Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal says the consultations on the new regulations started last December.
He says one of the reasons he picked that timetable was to allow farmers the opportunity to get involved.
Leal says the government will continue to hear comments until May 7th.
GFO had asked that the deadline be extended to June 30th.
Brock argues while the May 7th deadline may work for anti-agriculture groups and the government, it doesn't work for the province's farmers in the middle of spring planting.
GFO suggests it's those farmers - the ones most directly impacted by the new regulations - who will have the least opportunity to provide comment under the current timetable.
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Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal points out the consultation period on the new regulations started last December.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/LEAL-GFO-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Leal would only say they'll be looking at all the comments they get very closely.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/LEAL-GFO-2.mp3"][/audio]
