By Mark Reusser, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
The current farm property tax system needs to be fixed. To keep Ontario agriculture competitive, we need a fair farm tax system. And that’s why property taxation makes the list of one of four key issues the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is talking about with candidates in the June 12 provincial election. There are two fundamental issues about Ontario’s farmland tax system that OFA wants addressed by government – the process for assessing farm property and the farm property tax rate assigned by municipalities for farmland. Farm businesses need a predictable and accurate system to assess farmland value for tax purposes. Ontario farmers need to know how property is valued to be able to make sound business decisions. The OFA is working with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to identify a range of new procedures that will lead to more accurate and fair valuations of farm properties. These assessments directly affect farm tax bills and must accurately reflect the farmland value. The second issue involves the tax rate farmers pay for farmland. Most farms in Ontario are taxed at two rates. The farm residence plus one acre of land is taxed at the same residential tax rate as others in the same area. This tax rate reflects the services provided by the municipality for people including libraries and sports arenas. The rest of the farm property is taxed at a lower rate – up to 25% of the residential tax rate – to reflect the fact that farmland doesn’t need or use the same level of municipal services as people. Farmland taxes support land-based services such as roadways and bridges, proper land drainage and policing. But they shouldn’t be used to support services for people. Municipalities set the tax rate for farmland in their area. In most Ontario communities farmland tax is allowed to rise because of higher land values to cover shortfalls in municipal funding. That essentially means farmland is shouldering a tax burden for services that it does not use. This rising tax burden for farmers cuts into our ability to be competitive. Farmland taxes should only ever cover the cost of municipal services that farmland actually uses. And that means government must ensure rural municipalities are properly funded. We are encouraged by some doors that are opening to the issue of adequate municipal funding, based on a recent meeting the OFA had with the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus. Our organizations serve the same people and we have started discussions about unfair taxation of farms based on underfunded municipalities. The OFA is committed to working with this group to look for some possible solutions for both sides. When taxes impair our ability to be competitive – and are used to cover services that farmland doesn’t use – something must change. We need a farm property tax system where Ontario farmland is only taxed for services for the land, and not for services to people. For more information about a fair farm property tax system, and all OFA election issues, visit our provincial election site at GrowingOntario.ofa.on.ca For more information, contact: Mark Reusser Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-591-4223 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883
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As political watchers predicted, Ontario is in the midst of a provincial election campaign. And the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is ready to go to candidates with key messages for our sector before we all go to the polls on June 12. To focus our messages and draw the attention of political candidates to the key issues that matter to OFA members and impact the overall health of the Ontario economy, we’ve themed our election campaign “I Believe in Growing Ontario.” It’s a simple way to relate our agriculture issues back to the overall economy because when agriculture is strong, every single Ontarian benefits from the food, fibre and jobs the agri-sector provides. We have four key issues to focus on with party candidates over the next several weeks. We’re launching a special website – GrowingOntario.ofa.on.ca – as election central with information for candidates and OFA members about the issues that matter to Ontario agriculture. And why these issues should matter to every politician. Number one is energy. We want access to competitively priced energy – that includes expanding infrastructure to deliver natural gas into more rural areas and ensuring affordable and competitive rates for electricity. Number two is property taxation. We need government to improve property taxation for farmers, and address municipal funding, so farmland taxes reflect the services provided. The third issue is food literacy. The OFA wants food literacy reintroduced into our schools so Ontario’s young adults are taught how to make better, healthier food choices. And our forth election issue is agri-skills training. Ontario’s agri-food sector will remain strong, innovative and competitive as long as we continue to provide ongoing education and skills training. We have produced short videos to explain these four issues in more detail. Visit our YouTube channel at YouTube/OntarioFarms to learn more. The OFA talks a lot about how agriculture is the biggest economic driver in the province. And it’s our job, together with local and regional federations, to tell that message to political candidates of every party stripe in every riding. As part of our election campaign activities, we’re looking for a public display of support through our special “I Believe in Growing Ontario” campaign. It’s one way we are engaging with political candidates and asking them to demonstrate their commitment to the Ontario’s agri-food sector. It’s a simple way to have candidates “sign on” to acknowledge their support of our industry. And we’ll be calling on OFA members to help sign up local candidates. Visit GrowingOntario.ofa.on.ca for all the election information you need. Let’s get together and talk with our political candidates about the innovation, opportunity and excitement that can happen when we work together on key priorities, and when we believe in Growing Ontario. For more information, contact: Mark Wales President Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-773-6706 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
On June 12, Ontarians will go to the polls to vote for our next provincial government. In the weeks leading up to the election, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is focusing our efforts on four key messages with candidates. The issues and opportunities for agriculture must be part of every candidate’s political platform, and it’s up to all of us to engage with candidates on the issues that matter to our industry. Over the next four weeks, we’re featuring our four key election issues, and this week it is about food literacy. Food literacy is a big, broad topic but at its heart it is about ensuring that Ontarians, especially young adults, have an understanding and appreciation of where food comes from and how to make healthy choices for lifelong wellness. The OFA firmly believes human health and illness prevention begins with a strong food literacy component in our school curriculum, with the net result of a healthier population that doesn’t over burden our health care system. And healthier food choices begin right here in Ontario where we grow more than 200 different agricultural products. The OFA’s food literacy goal centres on the “6 x 16 Program” – an initiative that’s part of the National Food Strategy to ensure that by the age of 16, Ontario teenagers are able to plan and prepare six nutritious meals. It’s not really a lofty goal, but one the OFA feels is vital to bring back into the school curriculum. You might wonder why the OFA is championing food literacy. And it’s really not a stretch at all. OFA members are all in the business of growing food – food that is part of a healthy diet. And the more we can engage with young adults about how to make healthy choices, ideally using many of the products grown here at home, the entire industry benefits as we mentor the next generation of healthy consumers. Growing Ontario’s agri-food industry and improving the health of Ontarians rely on a strong knowledge and appreciation of food. Ontario would do well to take a page from the Jamie Oliver script. The English celebrity chef has brought his food literacy campaign to North America – working together with the Sobey’s chain in Canada to keep cooking skills alive. And he’s declared May 16 Food Revolution Day spreading the food literacy messages to “get cooking, share your love of food and inspire others to get excited too.” Sometimes it takes a celebrity to hammer home a point. Sometimes we can make the difference right here at home. Talk to local candidates. Let’s get food literacy back on the school curriculum. Let’s teach our children to make healthier choices that will also strengthen Ontario’s agri-food industry. For more information about food literacy and all the OFA election issues, visit our provincial election site at GrowingOntario.ofa.on.ca For more information contact: Mark Wales President Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-773-6706 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 OFA Commentary: May 2, 2014
By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture The 2014 provincial budget was unveiled amidst much speculation about its potential to ever see the light of day. We learned shortly afterwards that the budget will go down to defeat in a non-confidence motion because neither of the other two parties intend to support the Liberal budget. This makes the budget an election platform for the Liberal party. This means that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Ontario farmers have our work cut out for us in the upcoming spring election campaign. The budget essentially shut out agriculture and rural Ontario from direct measures needed to improve competitiveness and help grow Ontario’s economy. OFA is disappointed the Minister of Finance, Charles Sousa, failed to recognize the tremendous growth potential Ontario’s key industry offers. Already the largest economic contributor in the province, agri-food carries the most opportunity to grow of any other sector. In our provincial budget submission to the minister, OFA clearly outlined what agri-food and rural communities need to increase jobs and sustain the growth of our industry. We recommended programs and policies that would help our industry meet the Premier’s challenge to double the agri-food sector’s growth and create 120,000 new jobs by 2020. We told the government Ontario’s farm businesses need access to natural gas throughout rural Ontario, food literacy programs in our schools, an improved farm property tax system with adequate transfers to municipalities to pay for services provided to residents and increased funding for agricultural research and the Risk Management Program. The growth targets will be no small feat to achieve, but will be made much less likely without the programs and policies we need to be competitive and to enable jobs and growth. OFA was pleased to see the province invest $40 million annually over 10 years to develop agri-food processing. We believe this dedicated food-processing fund will only support farmers if processors commit to using only Ontario products. And this will only happen if Ontario farmers remain competitive. OFA looks forward to hearing further details on this proposal during the election campaign. So now we turn our efforts to influencing all party platforms throughout the election campaign. We will continue our calls for natural gas infrastructure and hope that the infrastructure promises made in the budget find their way to all party platforms. Rural infrastructure is a critical input to ensure the efficient movement of farm equipment and products. OFA will press throughout the election to ensure that agri-skills training and food literacy programs are elements of the next provincial budget. We will continue our efforts to secure a viable farm property tax system and adequate funding for municipalities to provide people services. OFA also believes reducing electricity costs has to be an election priority. Farmers and rural businesses cannot be competitive and contribute to growth in a province where energy prices are among the highest in North America. OFA and its farm business members are ready for an election and will actively engage all candidates in the opportunities that farming and agri-food offer. With the right platforms, farming and food in Ontario can and will be the catalyst if we really believe in Growing Ontario. Our goal is to ensure all candidates believe in Growing Ontario. For more information contact: Mark Wales President Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-773-6706 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 |
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