The Ontario government is taking action to balance the safety and security of farmers, their families, and the provincial food supply with protecting the right for people to participate in lawful protests on public property. Today, Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020, received Royal Assent. Once proclaimed into force, the Act will further protect against the health and safety risks of on-farm trespassing.

Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

“If there’s one thing the COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated, it’s the importance of steady and reliable food supply and the safety of those who feed us. I am more committed than ever to supporting our farmers, food processors, and the transport sector — the agri-food heroes who have worked so hard to keep food on our grocery store shelves and our kitchen tables throughout this crisis.”

In recent years, farmers have faced increased levels of trespass and theft of livestock from their farms as well as mental health stress due to these threats. Bill 156 will increase protections for those farmers while simultaneously protecting the right for people to participate in lawful protests on public property.

The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020 helps deter trespassers by:

• Escalating fines of up to $15,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for subsequent offenses, compared to a maximum of $10,000 under the Trespass to Property Act;
• Prescribing aggravating factors that would allow the court to consider factors that might justify an increased fine;
• Allowing the court to order restitution for damage in prescribed circumstances which could include damage to a farmer’s livestock or from theft;
• Increasing protection for farmers against civil liability from people who were hurt while trespassing or contravening the act, provided the farmer did not directly cause the harm;
• Removing consent to enter a farm property when it was given under duress or false pretenses.

Minister Hardeman said:

“Our government will always protect the right for people to participate in lawful protests. The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020 does not change that. However, that right has never included trespassing onto private property and harassing farmers and their families. We need to do more to help our agri-food workers focus on contributing to a strong and safe food supply, instead of fearing for their and their family’s safety from unlawful trespassing and harassment activity.”

Prior to the bill’s introduction, the Ontario government consulted with stakeholders across the province to ensure the right balance of protecting Ontario’s farmers and the rights of people to participate in lawful protests. Over the coming months, the ministry will continue consulting with stakeholders to develop the regulations that must be put in place before the Act can be proclaimed into force.

Keith Currie, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said:

“The Ontario Federation of Agriculture and its members appreciate the support of the Ontario government in taking the concerns of Ontario livestock and poultry farmers seriously and acting swiftly to address them by passing Bill 156. On-farm trespass causes serious threats to the mental health and well-being of Ontario farmers and significant stress and harm to our animals. The intent of this act is to protect farms, our families and the safety of our food supply chain by addressing the ongoing threat of unwanted trespassing.”

Last year, the government passed the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, giving Ontario the strongest penalties in Canada for people who are convicted of animal abuse. The province now has the first fully provincial government-based animal welfare enforcement system in Canada.

If anybody in Ontario believes that an animal is being mistreated, they should call 1-833-9ANIMAL or 1-833-926-4625 and have a trained inspector investigate the allegation.

Murray Sherk, Board Chair of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, said:

“Dairy farmers in Ontario take the welfare of the animals in our care and the quality of the milk we produce very seriously. The act goes a long way to keeping the integrity of the biosecurity measures we have in place for food safety and keeping our animals, families, and homes safe from unauthorized visitors. We appreciate the time and attention this government has dedicated to hearing first-hand from dairy farmers across the province and look forward to engaging further as the regulations for the act are considered.”

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

The post Ontario Protecting Farmers and Food Supply Chain appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Three leading agri-food organizations came together at Queen’s Park to highlight growth opportunities for food production and processing, explain the significant economic impact of the sector and outline necessary infrastructure investments to expand the industry. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), together with the Ontario Agri Business Association (OABA) and Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO) presented the state of Ontario’s agri-food sector to representatives at Queen’s Park today.

“The agri-food industry is a powerhouse for the province. When you consider key economic indicators – contributing more than $47 billion to Ontario’s GDP and supporting $8.1 billion in annual wages and salaries – our industry is making tremendous contributions to the prosperity of all Ontarians,”

says OFA President Keith Currie.

OFA outlined the challenges the agri-food sector in Ontario and across Canada faced in 2019. Market disruptions, trade issues, labour disputes and weather have made it a difficult year for most farmers and OFA members. Despite the challenges of the 2019 season, OFA noted progress on agricultural files with the provincial government – announcements on red tape reduction, natural gas expansion, broadband infrastructure, the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act and the latest Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act.

“Working together, we can unlock continued economic growth and opportunities for agri-food and our rural communities,”

says Currie.

Dave Buttenham, CEO of OABA remarked on recent government announcements that have supported their members, including red tape reduction and proposed changes to modernize the Ontario Pesticides Act. Buttenham also outlined necessary regulatory changes to enable agri-business to continue to grow and remain competitive. Buttenham said.

“The agri-business sector is a key stakeholder in the agri-food value chain, with over 340 member firms providing essential products and services to over 40,000 farmers in the province on a daily basis. The sector is proud to partner with their Ontario farm customers in the production of safe and nutritious food with a direct emphasis on food safety, animal welfare, environmental sustainability and farm profitability”.

“It is through our supply chain partners and positive relations with this government that the food and beverage manufacturing industry in Ontario will thrive,”

says Norm Beal, CEO, Food and Beverage Ontario

“Together, we can find the right solutions to achieving a competitive environment for businesses and an excellent quality of life for the people of Ontario.”

Source: Ontario Federation of Agriculture

The post OFA delivers state of Ontario’s agri-food sector at Queen’s Park appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.