Policy and Preservation Make Farms Forever Possible

 

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) submitted recommendations on Farms Forever, an Ontario government initiative that will inform future agri-food policy.

 

Among the CFFO’s top concerns are improving infrastructure to support local food economies, changing policy to support new farmers, and preserving farmland.

 

OMAFRA’s Farms Forever Discussion Paper, released in May, asks for stakeholder input on four major policy areas:

While OMAFRA treats each issue distinctly in its discussion paper, it’s easy to see how one issue bleeds into another: supports for local food economies can have a positive effect on Ontario’s agrifood sector as a whole, which can open up opportunities for new farmers.

 

Take, for example, the issue of abattoirs and other food processing facilities. A restrictive and costly regulatory environment has forced many small community abattoirs and processing plants out of business. The CFFO recommends re-examining regulations to accommodate small-sized businesses. A change like this could make a huge difference across the province, keeping local foods available for local consumers at a reasonable cost.

 

Changes to regulations that affect succession planning could also make a huge difference for young and new farmers. The CFFO suggests opening up tax rules to allow non-family members to inherit farms, enabling more first-generation farmers to get a start.

 

But it all hinges on farmland preservation.

 

The CFFO has applauded recent government commitments to preserve farmland in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) area. Intensifying capacity in areas that are already urbanized is key to keeping our existing farmland safe for future generations, and it is remarkable—given today’s lucrative development opportunities—that farmland is being safeguarded. The CFFO is happy to see government taking the long view.