The goal of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is to work collaboratively towards a profitable, sustainable future for Ontario farmers. We know some farmers get impatient or don’t agree with the principles of collaboration and policy development. Mr. Vanderspank expressed some of this frustration in your last issue. However, OFA knows from experience that farmers get better policy through consistent communication and grassroots input.

Working on over 140 lobby issues at any given time, OFA employs strategic long-term plans to achieve favourable results for members. Working in collaboration with county and commodity organizations the OFA develops positions and policy across all agriculture. Our lesson over the years has certainly been that it is critical that agriculture speaks with one voice to government.

An MOU being signed off between county federations and the OFA (including Lanark County) helps maintain a consistent message when presenting policy positions to government. It does not stifle the voice of county federations nor that of grassroots members. In fact it specifically notes the possibility of differences of opinion and deals with that situation in a positive way.

Grassroots input is the driving force of the OFA. In 2008 alone OFA extracted results from an extensive member survey as well as delegate debates at its annual meeting to create the year’s objectives. Beyond that is the regular member-driven resolution process and issue-oriented Public Advisory Councils (PAC) that continuously stream grassroots ideas and solutions into policy development.

OFA’s 2009 ‘to do’ list highlights just some of the priority issues.

• Submissions to the Ontario Government for changes to the SPCA legislation.

• Submissions to Ontario Government for practical solutions for farmers’ deadstock removal problems. Task team established and actions initiated.

• Establishment of a Beginning Farmer Task Team to ease the entry into agriculture. Recent government announcement for money to this group was well received.

• Pre-budget submissions and meetings.

• Secured funding training of agricultural representatives on local source water protection committees.

• Working with industry partners to develop a profitable biomass supply chain for farmers.

• Ongoing efforts with the Provincial government to minimize the impacts of the Ontario Greenbelt Act and efforts to expand the land area under the Act.

• Developing carbon trading opportunities for agriculture so farmers can benefit financially from environmental goods and services provided by the sector.

• Demanding science-based regulations in Ontario. Working with Open for Business initiative to reduce the regulatory burden on farming.

• Promotion of a Green Energy Act that provides income opportunities for farmers and opposes solar farms on class 1, 2, 3, or 4 farmland as mentioned in the third reading of the bill.

• Working nationally to improve the Product of Canada label.

Lobby campaigns typically entail a list of activities including: meetings with Ministers and senior bureaucrats; oral and written submissions responding to proposed government policy positions; public presentations; postcard and letter writing campaigns; publicity packages and more. It is typically slow and frustrating.

We appreciate this opportunity to clarify the policy development and communication process utilized in OFA’s new governance structure.

Bette Jean Crews
President
Ontario Federation of
Agriculture