By Pat Jileson, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Heading back to school is an exciting time for Ontario students, but it will be bittersweet for some rural Ontario communities coping with the threat of school closures. School closures are a harsh reality across Ontario, especially in small and rural communities. While the government imposed a temporary halt on any further closures in June, students and families living in communities where schools are threatened to close are left to wonder if this will be the last year for their local school. This weighs heavily on communities, their residents and children. Closing local schools and bussing students to schools in larger centres means extremely long bus rides, causing students to miss out on after school and extra-curricular activities, and after school job opportunities. Students at Paisley Central School in Paisley, ON know this all too well. Scheduled to close, the rural school was granted a one-year reprieve. Students will return to the school this fall, but the threat and potential for closure is real and weighs heavily on the students, staff and surrounding community. Schools provide more than a place for learning – they are home to community social events, local sports, and service and community groups. Rural schools are central to the health and wellbeing of our communities, and they are a vital social infrastructure that also supports employment opportunities and rural economic development. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) understands the important connection schools have to maintaining healthy communities and has been advocating to keep Ontario’s rural schools open. OFA will continue to address this issue in the upcoming fall legislature, calling on the government for additional analysis of the social and economic impact of closing rural schools. Students in rural areas are also challenged with connectivity. Access to the internet has become essential to today’s education. Research, independent learning, distance education, project submission and after school projects are often conducted outside of school and rely on broadband. But reliable and affordable broadband isn’t a reality in many rural communities, putting students, businesses and farms at a disadvantage. OFA has also been advocating for programs and government support to expand reliable and affordable broadband to Ontario’s rural and remote communities. Connectivity is closely tied to economic growth. Today’s students and youth are the future for these vibrant communities. What rural Ontario students need today are local, secure schools in their community and reliable, affordable broadband. These are just a few of the basic tools our province can provide to the next generation and OFA is behind this call to support the students in our rural communities all the way. For more information, contact: Pat Jileson Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-386-1330 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883
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By Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
An estimated 185,000 Ontario jobs will be at risk from proposed changes to Bill 148, according to a new study by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis. The study also predicts an increase in consumer household costs by $1,300 a year. These numbers aren’t adding up well for Ontario when it comes to implementing Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act. A 32% increase in minimum wage, paid sick days and other suggested legislative changes, may sound appealing but the economic impact study reveals that the proposed bill will only serve to jeopardize employment and increase the cost of living for all Ontarians. The first and only independent economic impact analysis of Bill 148 was commissioned by the Keep Ontario Working Coalition. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a member of the Keep Ontario Working Coalition, a group of business sector representatives, coordinated by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, concerned with sound public policy to help produce jobs and grow Ontario. The study measured the potential impacts of six key areas of changing in Bill 148, including changes to minimum wages, “equal pay” provisions, vacation, scheduling, personal emergency leave and unionization. The results clearly reveal that if the proposed legislation is implemented as currently drafted, there will be significant, sudden and serious uncertainty for Ontarians, from job security to family and household affordability. Bill 148 and changes to the Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act were first announced in June 2017. Ontario businesses and employers, including Ontario farmers, have been reeling from the unknown impact these changes could have on their businesses. The economic impact study puts numbers to some of their concerns. The independent economic impact analysis of Bill 148 shows that Ontario businesses will be hit with a $23 billion challenge over the next two years. It concludes that challenge will be impossible for the Ontario government to mitigate through offsets, leaving businesses to somehow manage it on their own. These sudden and unprecedented reforms will put 185,000 jobs at risk, hitting the province’s most vulnerable workers – youth under 25 and women. Ontarians can expect a 50% increase in inflation this year and for the foreseeable future. The cost of everyday consumer goods and services will go up by $1,300 per household on average each and every year. And in our agri-food sector, labour intensive farms will be hardest hit with higher, non-recoverable costs that could cause a drop in farm employment, adoption of labour saving technology and a move to less labour intensive crops. None of these changes will happen easily or without disruption across the agri-food sector. Bill 148 and the Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act are a threat to Ontario businesses, farmers and consumers. It is simply too much, too soon. OFA has been working with industry and business groups to help the government understand the impacts of its proposed legislative changes. If Bill 148 is successful, Ontario farmers and our agri-food businesses will immediately become less competitive. The changes will threaten Ontario’s food security and undermine the sustainability and variety of agricultural products available to Ontarians. For more information, contact: Keith Currie President Ontario Federation of Agriculture 705-441-3362 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 By Drew Spoelstra, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Every summer Ontario politicians are invited to an exclusive tour of an innovative Ontario farm with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). An annual summer event, OFA’s Field Day is an opportunity to engage with MPPs and their staff in an informal rural setting. This year’s event was hosted by Beverly Greenhouses of Dundas, ON on August 10. Owned by brothers Jan and Dale VanderHout, the vertically integrated English cucumber farm offered a great opportunity to showcase Ontario’s greenhouse industry. More than 60 people attended the event, experiencing the innovation and diversity that fuels our provincial agri-food sector. OFA believes events like Field Day are an important part of our role as advocates for Ontario’s agri-food sector. It’s an opportunity for us to show, and not just tell, our provincial leaders about the outstanding innovations happening on our farms and introduce them to the farmers themselves so they can hear their stories. Field Day is also an opportunity to talk to politicians about the challenges Ontario farmers face. While MPPs and their staff enjoyed a greenhouse tour and lunched on Ontario-grown fare, OFA representatives shared suggestions for growing our provincial rural economy, raised concerns with the Changing Workplaces Review and the impacts of the minimum wage increase, and highlighted the work Ontario farmers have done to reduce phosphorus and nutrient loss from fields into our waterways. The event’s rural setting was the perfect backdrop to remind politicians of the potential and possibilities rural Ontario has for growth, job creation and contribution to the provincial economy. OFA reminded attendees of the investments necessary to grow Ontario – expanding natural gas, upgrading rural roads, bridges, drainage systems, reliable high-speed broadband and a secure school system. Many famers, including greenhouse growers, employ farm workers, making the discussion on the Changing Workplaces Review and the rise in minimum wage a timely discussion. OFA has made it clear to the Ontario government that the rise in minimum wage will have negative impacts on our agri-food industry and any changes to the Employment Standards Act will further compound the effect. Phosphorus entering Ontario’s waterways and Great Lakes is an important topic. Ontario’s farmers are committed to reducing phosphorus by implementing on-farm practices and working with collaborative groups to address the issue. Field Day was another successful event, sending politicians home with a new respect and understanding of the greenhouse sector and Ontario’s agri-food industry. OFA was able to start and continue conversations about new and ongoing issues affecting our 36,000 farm business members. Many of the discussions at Field Day will carry on into the fall legislative session as part of OFA’s ongoing advocacy efforts. For more information, contact: Drew Spoelstra Executive Member Ontario Federation of Agriculture 905-379-5751 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 |
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