By Don McCabe, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
What a year it’s been for Ontario agriculture. Just about every farmer in the province has dealt with their own challenges this year, from disease outbreaks and declining prices to weather and the threat of imposed regulations. But as farmers we prevail and continue doing the good work of producing food, fibre, fuel and jobs for Ontarians.
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The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has had an eventful year too. While our members were busy in the fields this spring, staff and directors were working hard to get agriculture on the provincial election agenda. Our Growing Ontario campaign, asking election candidates to show their support for Ontario agriculture, was a success. Many of those candidates were elected and OFA continues meaningful conversations with those MPPs about important issues affecting agriculture and rural Ontario. The OFA will continue cultivating these relationships with our government over the next four years, building the momentum of Ontario agriculture.
Energy and access to competitively priced energy sources was one of the OFA’s biggest pushes with government this year. Expanding natural gas infrastructure to farms and across rural Ontario is important to the competitiveness and sustainability of Ontario farms. This is the message OFA took to Queen’s Park and we were encouraged by the announcement of a grant and loan program to expand natural gas throughout rural Ontario.
The Open for Business process was another highlight for OFA this year. We’ve been working diligently across ministries to resolve the number one issue affecting farm businesses in Ontario – regulatory restrictions. The Open for Business process delivered positive outcomes for Ontario farmers and agri-food businesses this year including changes to licensing meat processing facilities, the governance of greenhouse waste water and the expected change in the property tax assessments of grain elevators. The OFA looks forward to continued work through the Open for Business initiative, addressing regulatory restrictions and hopefully the regulatory development process.
Progress was made this year in developing Ontario’s bioeconomy. The OFA saw tremendous interest and support for a new, innovative market for renewable resources like cornstalks. The OFA was encouraged by the nearly 1,000 farmers who turned out for two cornstalk harvesting demonstrations in southwestern Ontario. We are definitely working in the direction our members want us to go – building “made in Ontario” markets for “grown in Ontario” farm products.
A reflection on the past year in Ontario agriculture wouldn’t be complete without a thank you to Premier Wynne and her government for her ministry mandate letters that have set a direction for our provincial government. The OFA also thanks the Conservative and NDP parties for their support for Ontario agriculture. It’s important we all work together to move agriculture forward.
With the Christmas season upon us, the OFA thanks every one of the 37,000 farm families for choosing to belong to our organization. Thank you for your support and feedback over the year, OFA’s success is measured by the success of our members. Merry Christmas from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
