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How can OFA reduce red tape for you? (2012)
How can OFA reduce red tape for you?
By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario farmers have identified regulatory burdens as a major obstacle to the success of farming and agri-food businesses. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has long advocated for regulatory modernization and has been fortunate to work with the government of Ontario on the Open for Business initiative to modernize regulations for the past two years.
The Ontario government asked OFA to lead agriculture and agri-food consultations on regulatory reform through the Open for Business process. We were pleased to be asked to represent farmers, agricultural input suppliers and food processors in a review of existing regulations that were outdated, inconsistent or over-reach the legislative intent. And we’ve been making progress. The Open for Business initiative enabled OFA to present the top five regulatory issues, along with recommendations for modernizations that would benefit the industry. We’ve made some good progress with submissions on regulatory issues including farmland property tax, source water protection, farmland drainage, species at risk and livestock predation.
Our successes are just the beginning. As OFA’s work on Open for Business continues, we want to know how this process can help our members directly. We’d like to hear from all our members and ask that you share with us which regulations get in the way of your farm business. This process enables OFA to directly speak on behalf of our members, and if we can help reduce regulatory red tape, outdated or inconsistent regulations, then we can help impact the way we all do business.
While the Open for Business initiative is new to our industry in Ontario, it’s not unique. A parallel process is being undertaken by the federal government called the Red Tape Reduction Commission. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is also in the process of reviewing its regulations as a separate initiative from the Red Tape Reduction Commission. These new developments clearly demonstrate that the concept of regulatory reform has been widely embraced. OFA is pleased to see both levels of government open to industry input and committed to enabling businesses in our agri-food industry to operate as effective and efficiently as possible.
I encourage all our OFA members to contact us about the regulations you want reformed by emailing your suggestions to regs@ofa.on.ca. We’ll be sure to take your recommendations directly to the Open for Business consultations and ensure we’re speaking for you as Ontario‘s voice of agriculture.
Comments
Brian Montgomery says on February 18, 2012 at 11:44 AM
have ospca removed from checking animal welfare on farms
Tom Martin says on February 21, 2012 at 4:22 PM
I would like to see changes in the 5 year renewal for the pesticide application license. After you pass the first one the subsequent exams are merely a test of reading ability. Why not echo the drivers license criteria and get a repeat test done at 80 years old only. I hate wasting time and money every five years to rewrite this simple test.
hamland farms says on February 21, 2012 at 4:56 PM
building permits for grain storage differ for farmers depending on municipality WHY?
cost ranges from $50 to 5% of project cost
Doug McIntosh says on February 27, 2012 at 3:59 PM
The Drummond report says that doing away with the slots at racetracks program will save 345 M dollars. In reality it will cost the province almost 2 billion a year in revenue. Horse racing creates jobs and farm income. Horse owners buy Hay, Corn, and Straw. Support the horse racing industry and save farm income and jobs.
Wesley Vranckx says on February 27, 2012 at 5:12 PM
The county has approved my on farm agri tourism business but this approved use is passive non-motorised meaning that I can not use farm tractors etc to draw wagons or use any farm vehicles for tourism. Can you help me!!!!
Anne Kent says on February 28, 2012 at 10:50 AM
I agree with Mr Doug MacIntosh !
WHY has the OFA not vigorously defended and supported the Ontario horse racing and breeding industry which is currently under attack by the McGuinty government...even before the Drummond report was made public, Minister Duncan announced his intention to end The Slots at Racetracks revenue sharing program which nets the provincial coffers well in excess of a billion $ a year... this represents 75% of the total revenues generated with the rest (20%) split between purses, capital improvements, and the local community (5%) . Without any doubt, thousands of agricultural jobs as well as our way of life are in jeopardy. The economic impact of the horse industry, 17 standard-bred tracks, their communities large (Fort Erie, Western Fair) and small (Clinton, Windsor etc etc) is significant and deserves some serious discussion by the OFA
Editor's Note:
We share the concern of members over the recent pronouncements on the horse racing industry. OFA was in communication with OHRIA immediately after Minister Duncan’s speech and is committed to working with the industry to help preserve its valuable contribution to agriculture and our rural communities.
Anne Kent says on February 28, 2012 at 6:41 PM
Dear Editor... your reply is simply not good enough!
The McGuinty Government has now escalated its attacks on the horse industry as evidenced by the recent incredibly misleading radio ads about horse people. We are depicted as rich and greedy front men for the Hudak conservatives who are stealing funds from the elderly and from childrens' daycare!
The horse industry has now become a political football and a public relations tool.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture must "stand up and be counted" as the credible and highly respected entity that it is, and and not hide in the shadows of OHRIA.
As an OFA member, I ask that you come out front and truly and vigorously represent our interests. Anything less is unworthy.
Bev Millar says on March 25, 2012 at 8:38 PM
I agree with the comments above about horse racing. I do not have horses for racing but do know that we and other farmers depends on the income that comes in from from the equine industry. I am also concerned about the OSPCA if they are becoming so urban that they do not understand farming. I support humane treatment of animals and their care is extremely important to me. I do not support a lack of understanding of agriculture leading to court time, extra costs for farmers and society and a lot of grief, stress and upset for farmers without due cause. And the Ontario Government could follow the lead of the Federal Government providing pre-approved/engineer drawings of buildings, manure holding areas, and pre-approved coverall building designs etc that farmers can use for building permits. This will mean not just less delay, but an ability to budget, avoid expensive visits from engineers to re-do designs not for any design issues, just for extreme risk avoidance and no professional engineers on municipal building official teams Thanks for asking and thanks for all the OFA does for us.
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