There’s something in this year’s federal budget for everyone, at least that’s the government’s intent ahead of a federal election this year. The good news for Canadian agriculture is the emphasis on food, developing a food policy and new school food programs.

In a few short weeks, a new federal fuel surcharge comes into effect in Ontario. It’s part of the federal carbon pollution pricing system and there are implications for Ontario farmers. The new fuel surcharge in Ontario will be added to fuel used for air, marine, rail and road use.

If you’re happy and you know it, chances are you’re living in a rural community. That’s a new fact, according to researchers at McGill University in Montreal and the Vancouver School of Economics, who evaluated the happiness levels of residents across Canada.

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 was designed to identify species at risk, protect their habitats and promote stewardship practices that will help protect these plant and animal species. Ontario agriculture is no stranger to this legislation as many habitats of endangered, threatened or species of special concern are found on or around farmland.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a strong advocate for eliminating unnecessary red tape and regulatory burden for Ontario’s agricultural community. As the provincial government looks to reduce red tape under its open-for-business bylaws, including the proposed Bill 66 Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018, OFA will always advocate to ensure the concerns of Ontario agriculture are heard and considered.

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.