FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 9, 2016
Barrett backs local food
QUEEN’S PARK – Toby Barrett, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP and Opposition Critic to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, paid tribute to Local Food Week in the Ontario Legislature, yesterday.
“Down in Haldimand–Norfolk, we have a great appreciation for the concept of local food. We’re about 100 miles from Toronto, certainly from the Ontario Food Terminal, with respect to fresh produce, as with the Holland Marsh, the Niagara area—and there’s many other important horticultural and fresh food areas; Essex county, for example,” he said in the Legislature.
Barrett gave the government credit for the creation of Local Food Week, adding it wasn’t perfect.
“I’m afraid things have gone downhill with the recent budget, with the cuts to the ag ministry—farmers weren’t happy about that,” he said in the Legislature. “The budget was cut: It was reduced from $943 million to $916 million, a cut of $28 million to what I consider a very small ministry as far as funding, but a very important ministry.
“We also heard that the RED Program, the Rural Economic Development Fund, was suspended. Again, rural municipalities, certainly down my way, rural communities and small businesses weren’t impressed upon hearing that kind of news. My local Norfolk county council supported a resolution from South Dundas, calling for the government to bring back the RED Program, and 66 other municipalities have put forward similar resolutions. It’s a program that can, obviously, support local food. Its replacement, regrettably, would set a minimum investment required of $5 million. That’s truly beyond the scope of farmers’ markets and so many farm operations, so many grower organizations.”
In his remarks, Barrett pondered how the government has done on local food in the past year.
“We heard mention of the local food report. Last year was the first report. I haven’t seen the recent report. I understand it just came out a few days ago. It’s a unique concept for this government to actually track progress. Obviously, it would highlight progress from the Local Food Act, and goals with respect to all-important food literacy. I’d like to see the statistics on the tax credit for the food bank donations, and I know there’s a pilot fundraising program for students to make use of locally grown produce and vegetables—and the Foodland calendar. I know staff in my office are waiting for that one. I hope they’re coming out very soon. We all look forward to the recipes in that calendar.”
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org
ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL HANSARD
Wednesday, June 8, 2014
Mr. Toby Barrett: Today we do pay tribute to Local Food Week, and tomorrow I think most of us will be out front to savour the farmers’ market, courtesy of the Organic Council of Ontario.
Several years ago, this Legislature passed the Local Food Act. It wasn’t perfect, but at least it recognized the importance of the production of food for Ontarians in the province of Ontario and as close as possible to market. It did take this government a while to implement provisions of the act that would give farmers tax receipts for donating excess produce to food banks, to those who are less fortunate.
I’m afraid things have gone downhill with the recent budget, with the cuts to the ag ministry—farmers weren’t happy about that. The budget was cut: It was reduced from $943 million to $916 million, a cut of $28 million to what I consider a very small ministry as far as funding, but a very important ministry.
We also heard that the RED Program, the Rural Economic Development Fund, was suspended. Again, rural municipalities, certainly down my way, rural communities and small businesses weren’t impressed upon hearing that kind of news. My local Norfolk county council supported a resolution from South Dundas, calling for the government to bring back the RED Program, and 66 other municipalities have put forward similar resolutions. It’s a program that can, obviously, support local food. Its replacement, regrettably, would set a minimum investment required of $5 million. That’s truly beyond the scope of farmers’ markets and so many farm operations, so many grower organizations.
Down in Haldimand–Norfolk, we have a great appreciation for the concept of local food. We’re about 100 miles from Toronto, certainly from the Ontario Food Terminal, with respect to fresh produce, as with the Holland Marsh, the Niagara area—and there’s many other important horticultural and fresh food areas; Essex county, for example.
Down our way, we can grow just about every horticultural crop you can think of, short of tropical produce, although we used to be known as the banana belt for some reason—I don’t know if that referred to the residents. I think it referred to the produce that we grow. But it certainly gives us a unique perspective on local production, local marketing and issues with respect to the local food movement.
We heard mention of the local food report. Last year was the first report. I haven’t seen the recent report. I understand it just came out a few days ago. It’s a unique concept for this government to actually track progress. Obviously, it would highlight progress from the Local Food Act, and goals with respect to all-important food literacy. I’d like to see the statistics on the tax credit for the food bank donations, and I know there’s a pilot fundraising program for students to make use of locally grown produce and vegetables—and the Foodland calendar. I know staff in my office are waiting for that one. I hope they’re coming out very soon. We all look forward to the recipes in that calendar.
When we talk about local food we also have to ever keep in mind the importance of export. I think of our hog industry; I think of our cattlemen. We must be on top of exports. We have to have Ontario agribusiness and agri-food at the table and near enough to the table with respect to the ongoing international trade negotiations. Our hog industry exports to 80 countries. Ginseng is a big export crop coming out of my area.
We buy local, we produce local, but we also have to think globally as well.
YOUTUBE VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwuYKUD-gc0&feature=youtu.be