When the provincial government proposes new legislation or changes to existing regulations that could impact Ontario agriculture, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) evaluates the fine print and prepares an official response to government. These responses form the basis of our position on the issues raised.

Updates to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program were announced on February 1 that should see improvements in the claims, appeal and compensation process for Ontario livestock farmers. The changes will be implemented by the federal and provincial governments, and are a result of consultations with farmers and agricultural industry leaders, including the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).

Farm property taxes are not a new topic for Ontario agriculture, but they can be a complicated one. Property taxes are intended to pay for municipal services. The residential rate is set to pay for services required by households, including recreation, health and protection services.

To say that reliable internet is vital to Ontario’s rural residents – farmers, businesses and communities – is stating the obvious. But it’s not the reality for many rural Ontarians. So when the CRTC designated high-speed internet as a basic service for Canadians – and committed $750 million over five years for upgrades – the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) was hopeful at the prospect of expanded service for Ontario farmers.

Balancing a budget is tough and takes vision and discipline. The Ontario government is working on balancing the province’s books, collecting information and consulting across ministries to develop the 2019 provincial budget.

When the federal government presents its next budget, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) wants to be sure that real investment in the agri-food sector and rural communities is part of the plan.

There’s something exciting about starting a brand new year. The opportunities and possibilities are endless, and turning the calendar allows us to start with a clean slate for another growing season. And who doesn’t want to put the harvest challenges of 2018 behind us?