OFA Commentary: October 20, 2017
By Mark Wales, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture The federal government got an earful about its proposed tax changes that would have devastating impacts on incorporated farm businesses in Canada. It appears they have listened as Finance Minister Bill Morneau has now announced a reduction in small business tax rates, as well as the abandonment of other proposals that would have impacted family farm transfers. When the proposed changes were announced in July, with consultations open until October 2, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) encouraged members to let the federal government know the serious implications many of the tax changes would have to the estimated 25% of farm businesses in Ontario and Canada that are incorporated. And members responded in droves – a signal of the devastating impact these changes would inflict. More than 600 people submitted a letter to local MPs through OFA’s Act Now website. OFA welcomed the statement by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) on October 16 reacting to the joint announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau, Minster Morneau and Small Business and Tourism Minister Bardish Chaggar about small business tax changes. CFA President Ron Bonnett stated that reducing the 10.5% small business tax rate to 10% in 2018 and 9% in 2019 will help drive growth agriculture and boost the competitiveness of Canadian farmers. It should be noted that this tax reduction was actually following through on a campaign promise by the Trudeau government. Other changes appear to indicate that the voice of Canada’s farmers and farm groups were heard over recent months. Minister Morneau has announced all capital gains rules are being removed from the draft legislation and this is good news for agriculture. They heard our concerns and aren’t changing the existing family farm transfer rules. These tweaks to the proposed changes to private corporation taxes are an encouraging first step, and demonstrate how vital it is to work together with strong messages to ensure the voice of agriculture is clearly heard in the halls of government. OFA is also encouraged because these announcements have positive implications to the rural small businesses that support our agricultural industry. For more information, contact: Mark Wales Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-773-6706 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883
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OFA Commentary: October 13, 2017
By Debra Pretty-Straathof, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Harvest is a season of plenty. It’s a time when agricultural productivity is most evident. Farmers are spending long hours harvesting in the fields, and consumers are enjoying a huge selection of locally grown products at farmers markets and on store shelves. Harvest is also a reminder that the agri-food sector is an important, vital business for Canada. We’re fortunate to have plenty of land to grow crops and raise livestock and plenty of fresh water resources. Harvest reminds us of our responsibility to use these bountiful resources in a productive and sustainable way. According to the federal government’s Barton Report, released earlier this year, our agri-food industry has the potential for huge growth and, with the right investments, could become the second largest exporter of food in the world. The Barton Report is a comprehensive set of recommendations from the federal government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth. The report identified agriculture as a sector where Canada has the potential for substantial growth and export improvement based on the industry’s strengths as a trusted food supply backed by research and access to resources. Canada’s agri-food sector is now the fifth largest agricultural exporter in the world, contributing 6.7% of our nation’s GDP and accounting for 2.1 million jobs. Canada’s agri-food exports have averaged annual growth of 9.5% over the past five years. The report defines the sector as one of Canada’s largest employers and economic engines, and poses that the sector represents a distinctive opportunity for Canada to boost inclusive economic growth. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) brings this message to our provincial government – that Ontario’s agri-food sector can and will be a driver of inclusive growth across the province. Our vision of economic growth includes distributed development opportunities that will spread wealth across the province. It will be based on the agri-food sector’s vast potential but also include other economic development across our communities. What Ontario needs is an action plan to build on our agri-food strength and to support opportunities in our communities through strategic investment. OFA continues to remind the Ontario government of all the reasons that investing in agriculture and our communities is an investment that will benefit all Ontarians. The Barton Report and the bounty of our harvest reminds us of Ontario’s endowments and strengths as sources of inclusive growth and opportunities for producing prosperity. For more information, contact: Debra Pretty-Straathof Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 613-371-4480 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 By Eleanor Renaud, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Farmers don’t depend on special occasions to celebrate our industry, but we certainly appreciate when the bounty of the harvest is shared with everyone during events like Ontario Agriculture Week and Thanksgiving. October 2 – 9 is Ontario Agriculture Week this year. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) uses this distinctive week to visit Queen’s Park, meet with MPPs to talk about the importance of our industry, outline the many ways agriculture and food support our economy, raise regulatory concerns impacting farm businesses, and share a story or two about the great things going on back home on our farms and in rural communities. It’s a time to remind our political leaders of just how big our industry is, with more than 200 agricultural products grown right here in the province and more than 70% of those products staying right here to feed Ontarians. OFA uses the occasion of Ontario Agriculture Week to highlight Ontario farm interests. This year we concentrated on Producing Prosperity for Ontario. We’ll continue with this theme in the lead up to the 2018 provincial election to demonstrate how agriculture, food and rural Ontario can drive and produce prosperity in the province with sound government investment to help in distributing economic development. Distributing economic development across the province will benefit all Ontarians with relief from the urban housing and transportation crisis, smart growth and sustainable farms, new opportunities for good paying jobs and revitalized non-urban communities. The week’s celebrations are capped off with Thanksgiving weekend, a celebration of food, and of our farming heritage and productivity. No matter where you are in the province, there’s sure to be a celebration to enjoy – with your own family, at a local fall fair, a pumpkin patch or corn maze or a drive through rural Ontario to enjoy the scenery and fall colours. Ontario Agriculture Week and Thanksgiving are a time to work for a bright and sustainable future but also a time for farmers to pause and enjoy the bounty of the harvest already completed and that yet to come this season. To all our members and their farming families, happy Thanksgiving from the OFA. For more information, contact: Eleanor Renaud Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 613-213-2130 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 |
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