Ontario Farm Group Launches Petition Against Tire Eco-Fee Increase

OFA Says Fee Increase Will be Detrimental to Ontario Farmers

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Ontario’s largest general farm organization – Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is encouraging farmers to express their opposition to the recent increase, introduced by the Ontario Liberal government, on tire stewardship fees levied on agricultural equipment tires.

The increased eco-fee will apply not only to agricultural equipment but all tires used off-road, including forestry, mining and construction, and more. The increased fees are set to come into effect April 1, 2013.

The OFA says that the increased fee is unfairly penalizing farmers by adding thousands of dollars of additional expenses to their farm business operation each year. Perhaps the largest concern to the fee increase is that there was no consultation process with farmers or farm groups – the OFA wasn’t informed -- that these changes were scheduled to take place.

Farms.com will continue to follow this developing story as it unfolds. An earlier article about the same topic was published [March 25th] and it can be read at: http://www.farms.com/ag-industry-news/ontario-liberals-approve-new-tire-eco-fee-which-will-cost-farmers-923.aspx

To voice your concerns and participate in the petition, visit the OFA website at: http://actnow.ofa.on.ca/campaign.php?s=ontario-tire-stewardship-fee-increases