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.

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

“Ontario’s agri-food supply chain is one of the strongest in the world and COVID-19 has just reinforced that fact. The commitment shown by our farmers, food processors, grocery store workers, truck drivers, restaurateurs, and everyone across the agri-food sector during the COVID-19 outbreak is inspiring.”

The 2020 Local Food Report demonstrates the importance of local food for Ontario consumers and communities while recognizing farmers and those who keep food on our plates. Highlights include:

• Breweries and distilleries adapting their production facilities so they can produce hand sanitizer to help address the supply shortage;
• Organizations promoting local food literacy through online resources, virtual experiences, and recipes that focus on locally-sourced ingredients;
• Food banks, industry partners and local communities working together to create and distribute emergency food boxes to those in need;
• Local public health units and agencies, along with industry and community food organizations, collaborating to offer weekly meal packages to families in place of school food programs that aren’t currently

“Over the last two months, we have heard stories of hard-working and dedicated people that have adapted to these challenging times and gone above and beyond to ensure access to local Ontario food, and we are pleased to have an opportunity to celebrate them,”

said Hardeman.

Ontario is home to nearly 49,600 farms and 4,400 food processing facilities that contribute over $47 billion to the provincial GDP, making the agri-food sector a key economic driver of Ontario’s economy. Now more than ever, buying and supporting local food creates jobs and economic growth in communities across the province.

Quick facts

• Ontario celebrates Local Food Week annually during the first week in
• The Local Food Report is a cornerstone of Local Food Week in
• To learn more about Ontario’s local food system, visit the website.
• For more than 40 years, Foodland Ontario has helped consumers identify and purchase all the good things that are grown and made in

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

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