This column is to keep you informed about the key issues that OFVGA is tackling on behalf of Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers.

Provincial consultations

Although the provincial government had a shorter fall session than normal, the pace seemed to increase, and the number of consultations probably exceeded that of a normal session. This drove the need for quick work on the part of OFVGA to coordinate with members and determine appropriate responses to several important proposed policy changes. OFVGA responded to proposals related to:

Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, where comments were made on everything from environmental penalties and line fence disputes to changes to delivery of production insurance and requirements for agricultural organizations.

Ontario Pesticides Act, supporting the improved process for classifying new crop protection products in Ontario.

Healthy Menu Choices Act, supporting clarifications that are being made to exclude fresh fruits and vegetables from requirements to have nutritional labelling in grocery retail outlets.

Ontario Building Code Services, outlining support for increased consistency of application of the code, raising concerns about a proposed levy, and requirements for bunkhouses.

Ontario’s Financial Protection Programs, suggesting changes to existing legislation to establish the ability to expand programs to sectors that currently don’t have financial protection, including fruit and vegetable farmers.

The full submissions are available for viewing at www.ofvga.org/news. We anticipate that some of the proposed changes will lead to further consultations, which the OFVGA will be following closely.

Farm Trespass legislation

In December 2019, the Ontario government released legislation to increase protections for the livestock value chain (farms through to processing) from unwanted visitors, including activists. While the OFVGA is pleased to see the government moving to protect farm families and their livelihood, the legislation does not address trespass issues for farms or food value chains beyond livestock. The OFVGA will be putting forward views to the government to ensure that it considers protecting farm families and food safety of all agricultural sectors a priority.

Canadian Agriculture Partnership funding

There are several intakes for Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) funding available to farmers and farm organizations opening in January 2020.

Farmers can apply for funding between January 8 and January 29, 2019 under the regular CAP funding stream. Details online suggest this intake will focus on plant health projects. The Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) program will open on January 20, 2020 with a focus on projects that increase the sustainability of the Lake Erie water basin.

The Place to Grow: Agri-Food Innovation Initiative, targeted to broader industry projects will accept applications from January 6 to January 27, 2020. This funding is typically distributed to agricultural organizations or collaborations of businesses and demonstrate broad industry benefit.

At the time of writing, program details are not available for these program intakes. Hopefully program details will be available at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap or ontariosoilcrop.org soon. Recent communications from government suggest that application processes for program intakes have been revamped. If you choose to participate, the OFVGA would be interested in hearing your experience with the process.

Call for resolutions

This is a final call for resolutions for the 2020 OFVGA annual general meeting. Resolutions are a great way to provide direction for future OFVGA activities or shape the position it takes on key issues faced by the fruit and vegetable sector. If your organization is considering submitting a resolution on a specific issue and would like some background information that might be helpful in crafting your resolution, please feel free to contact me. The deadline for submitting resolutions is January 10, 2020.

Want to see an issue highlighted here, or learn more about how OFVGA represents growers? Contact Gordon Stock, senior policy and government relations advisor, at gstock@ofvga.org or 519-763-6160, ext. 125. More detailed updates can also be found at www.ofvga.org/news.