Yesterday, OFA met with our Policy Advisory Council for an engaging and productive discussion on a hot topic affecting our members and the entire agri-food value chain – Interprovincial Trade.

We welcomed three insightful guest speakers who provided valuable perspectives including, Dan Kelly from Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Al Mussell from Agri Food Economic Systems & Brock Dickinson Director of the University of Waterloo’s Economic Development Program, helping us explore opportunities and challenges in moving goods across provincial borders.

The Council also held elections for our new steering committee, ensuring strong leadership and representation moving forward. We are pleased to welcome back Erica Murray from Huron County, and welcome two new members to the steering committee Terry Otto from Ottawa and Angela Field from Renfrew. Thanks also to our outgoing committee members who have served the PAC well, Julie Danen from Perth County and Paul Buckley from Peterborough-Kawartha Lakes.

Part of the agenda was also dedicated to hearing from local federations about successful Revive projects hosted across the province over the past year and also hear local concerns of the grassroots including emergency services supporting rural areas, challenges with condemnations in rural abattoirs and farmland expropriation and ensuring fair market values. This member input helps to ensure OFA’s advocacy efforts are representing members in every corner of the province.

Thank you to all who participated—your voices shape the future of agriculture in Ontario!