OFA, along with Ontario Sheep Farmers and Beef Farmers of Ontario provided comments to the Minister of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness regarding improving the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) to reduce program costs, address producer concerns, and improve program responsiveness.

Producers have reported significant delays -upwards of a year- between reporting livestock damage and receiving compensation. Additionally, there is inconsistency in program delivery between municipalities, with a wide variety in responsiveness and administration of claims.

Introducing an online reporting form would allow producers to submit their own photos, reducing administration time and costs.

Currently, the OWDCP compensates commercial breeding sheep stock at cull animal meat prices; Our groups believe compensation under the program should reflect the true valuations of commercial breeding sheep stock lost to predation. We recommend an annual survey that would report actual values of commercial and purebred breeding stock sold, allowing producers to be appropriately compensated.

Finally, we recommend harmonizing the compensation structure of the Protection of Livestock and Poultry from Dogs Act with the OWDCP model, ensuring that all producers receive fair and up-to-date compensation for domestic dog attacks based on industry standards.