Ontario agriculture is a major contributor to Canada’s economy, and candidates seeking votes on October 14 must be made aware of what’s at stake –not just for the agricultural economy, but for the country’s economy.

Our farmers do much more than grow food and fibre for consumption. We provide valuable services to Canadians that preserve the soil, preserve and protect water, provide habitat for wildlife and sequester carbon to reduce the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Many of these services involve investments by farmers that add to the cost of farming. When we see competitors in other countries being paid for these services, we want our government to recognize that Canadian farmers should be paid for their ecological goods and services. We feel our farmers need an opportunity to be involved in a Cap and Trade Carbon Offset system that will provide compensation for carbon sequestration similar to what farmers in other nations receive.

Canadian farmers need flexible and responsive business risk management programs funded by the federal government. We believe our federal government must accept and include the AgriFlex proposal as part of the new agricultural policy framework, Growing Forward. We also believe the federal government must implement Production Insurance programs for livestock and horticulture producers, immediately.

Canadian farmers, through their respective commodity and general farm organizations, need ongoing access to public funding to further develop and implement on-farm food safety programs that safeguard consumers and improve the reputation and marketability of Canadian farm products.

Canada maintains a strict regulatory regime on crop protection products and veterinary drugs for use by farmers. We understand this is intended to protect public health and safety through a rigorous approvals process before new products are allowed on the market, however, the slowness and expense of the approval process means Canadian farmers lag behind farmers in other parts of the world in gaining access to new and safer products.

The OFA and its national partner, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, want all candidates to realize the importance of harmonized standards of approval for pest control and veterinary drug products to accelerate the availability of such products in Canada.

Canadian farmers are among the most competitive in the world, but improvements to this country’s agricultural policies could enhance our position.