By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Canada’s 2014 Economic Action Plan has been released, and it’s a tame budget where agriculture is concerned. Analysis by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) have found references to our sector are modest at best – but the budget still contains some meaningful items for Canadian farmers. For example, the government’s plan to extend and enhance access to high-speed broadband networks is good news for farm families. Many farms are located in the ‘last mile’ of rural countryside where broadband is still unavailable. Improved access to internet for farmers in remote locations is essential to be competitive in the marketplace. The government’s $390 million investment in food safety is good news for Canadian agri-food partners and consumers too. In Ontario alone, nearly $20 billion worth of food is imported each year from international markets. Adding 200 more inspectors and enhancing programs that target high-risk foods will give inspectors more resources to ensure imported foods are meeting the stringent food safety standards that are already in place for food that’s grown by Canadian farmers. The government’s promise to develop a “Made in Canada” consumer awareness campaign is a win for Canadian agriculture. Promoting Canadian agricultural products, at home and abroad, will be a boost for farmers. Both the CFA and OFA have been asking for the promotion of Canadian products through the National Food Strategy and we look forward to the development of a Canadian branded campaign. The OFA and CFA were disappointed to see some key requests made during the pre-budget consultation period left out of the tabled federal budget. The OFA and CFA both requested key revisions that would reduce red tape and increase flexibility for farmers involved in situations such as the division of sibling-owned farm corporations or intergenerational farm transfers. Eliminating red tape in these areas is key to encouraging the next generation of farm families to stay in business. The OFA and CFA together will continue to push Canada’s federal government to create a more accessible business environment for these farm businesses. The federal government also continues to disappoint Ontario farmers by its refusal to engage in Ontario’s Risk Management Program. Farmers in Ontario rely on the program as price insurance, and the federal government’s participation is key to the program’s success. We expect the number of Ontario farmers drawing on the program in 2014 to be significant. The OFA is keen to work with Ontario Premier and agriculture minister Kathleen Wynne to address her recent challenge to double our sector’s annual growth rate and create 120,000 jobs by the year 2020. We have been clear with the provincial government about the tools Ontario agri-food requires to help us achieve those targets. As Canada’s largest voluntary farm organization representing more than 37,000 farm family businesses across Ontario, we will continue to work through CFA to push our federal government for meaningful policies and investments that will enable prosperous and sustainable farms for Ontario, and Canada. -30- 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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