ONTARIO – Addressing trade issues and bolstering support for the agri-food sector top the list of federal election priorities for Ontario’s farmers.
Amid ongoing tariff uncertainty, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is urging federal election candidates to take clear and decisive stances on critical issues affecting farm businesses, economic competitiveness and food security.
“Protecting our domestic food supply and ensuring the sustainability and prosperity of our farming businesses has to be a priority for the federal government,” says Drew Spoelstra, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “This is a pivotal time for Canada and for our sector and it’s important for candidates of all parties, whether rural or urban, to be aware of the strategic importance of food and farming to our economy, our communities and our country.”
OFA’s priorities for the April 28 federal election include:
– addressing trade issues: Tariffs and other trade barriers threaten Canada’s food system. The agriculture sector needs immediate support to weather this uncertainty, as well as long-term investments that will ensure we can continue to produce food, fuel, fibre and flowers right here at home;
– support for farm business competitiveness: Programs that help farmers manage business risks beyond their control, like tariffs, trade, inflation or weather, are critical. Farmers are asking for a permanent increase to the interest-free portion of the Advanced Payments Program to $350,000 per year and improvements to the AgriStability program that will make it easier for farmers to access support;
– permanently scrapping the carbon tax: There are currently no practical, cost-effective alternatives to the fuels used in agricultural production for essential activities like grain drying and barn heating. Although Canada’s carbon tax rate has been set to zero, farmers are asking the carbon tax to be permanently removed from fuels used in agricultural production;
– preventing railways from downloading costs onto farmers and landowners: Federally regulated rail companies are downloading infrastructure maintenance and safety upgrade costs that have always been their responsibility onto farmers and landowners in two major areas: drainage and private rail crossings.
The federal government must prevent railways from downloading these cost-prohibitive expenses onto farmers and landowners; and
– ensuring consistent access to labour: Lack of labour across the entire agriculture and food supply chain – including planting, production, quality control, processing, distribution and research – is a critical issue.
Farmers need access to reliable, well-functioning labour programs that provide benefit to both employers and workers, and a long-term strategy is needed to address workforce shortages. To view the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s complete election priorities summary visit the OFA website at ofa.on.ca.
