The Rural Revolution: A Fight for Survival

For many years growth and prosperity in rural Ontario has been declining. The continued success of many family farms and businesses was threatened. The heartache and frustration of the people trying to live off the land began weaving its way across rural Ontario and came to a crisis in 2003. The struggles of landowners and farmers to survive through some of the toughest conditions since the depression of the 1930's are highlighted in this documentary.

The discovery of BSE in an Alberta cow and the subsequent closing of Canada's borders to the United States sent shock waves around the country. May 20, 2003 is forever etched in the minds of those rural residents whose lives came crashing down around them. This is only part of the story.

Rural Ontario, devastated by these events, was in turmoil. It was during this dark peroid that the Canadian government, at all three levels, unleashed a barrage of rules and regulations on the rural community and expected it to bear most of the costs. Forced to comply or face thousands of dollars in fines, many rural businesses could not continue and closed their doors forever.

The seeds of discontent had been watered and the anger that grew from this treatment feuled a growing movement of landowners who said, "Enough is enough" and took steps to change the course of their history. Rallies, food strikes and tractor demonstrations at Tillsonburg, Queen's Park, Parliament Hill, Prescott and many other locations throughout Ontario became common occurrences during this two year period.

This documentary takes you behind the scenes to meet the people who are rooted to the land... this is their story.



146 mins

Rental - 7 Days $5.00 + tax         Purchase - $24.99 + tax