After participating in the annual Perth County Federation of Agriculture (PCFA) Forum last week Perth-Wellington MP John Nater and MPP Randy Pettapiece issued a joint statement declaring the riding area is “extremely fortunate to have such capable and successful producers” representing the industry.
“While there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding international trade and NAFTA, it is always encouraging to hear from farm and agriculture leaders about their optimism for the industry,” Nater stated in a press release. “The information and feedback received today will be valuable as I continue to represent local farmers and farm families in what is Ontario’s largest industry.”
Producers, federation members and other groups weighed in on issues including business risk management programs, trade agreements, labour market concerns, transportation, rural broadband, food processing capacity, and proposed changes to the Canada Food Guide, to name a few.
“I’ve always believed that government should listen to producers – not try to tell them how to run their business,” Pettapiece added. “Too often, Queen’s Park takes a ‘government-knows-best’ attitude.”
In discussing risk management programs, the release states, one participant pointed out, “Our third-biggest risk is government regulations.”
If producers don’t know what’s coming, the participant added, they can’t plan for that.
Dairy industry representatives spoke about proposed changes to the Canada Food Guide, which could mean a reduced emphasis on dairy in the guide. If approved, the move could have serious repercussions on an industry employing 70,000 people in Ontario.
Other proposed changes to front-of-package labelling could mean a package of yogurt may come with a “warning label,” the release states.
International trade agreements were top-of-mind for many commodity groups. They cited ongoing uncertainty over NAFTA, and the lack of any clear timeline to ratify CPTPP – the new free trade agreement involving 11 countries, including Canada.
“Understandably, local producers have concerns over market access and what to expect in the future,” Nater said.
Both Nater and Pettapiece thanked PCFA president Robert Martin for moderating the forum, and all organizers and participants for their contributions.
