The Rural Voice, 2003-03, Page 11National Farmers Union - Ontario NEWSLETTER
Ontario Office: R.R. 2, Godfrey, ON KOH 1TO - Phone: 613-273-5545
Email: nfuo@rideau.net Website: www.nfu.ca/on
NFU -0 releases Nutrient Management Policy amid flawed consultation process
Agriculture and Food Minister
Helen Johns kept a tight rein on
speakers attending the Nutrient
Management Consultation in
Stratford February 3. Johns opened
the meeting by introducing Ontario
Federation of Agriculture leader Ron
Bonnett as "spokesperson for all the
farm groups in the province".
Bonnett, seated at the head table with
Johns and staff, proceeded to make
an uninterrupted five minute
presentation expressing OFA's
gratitude for the consultations with
the minister.
Several of the following speakers,
including West Perth's Mayor John
Van Bakel, were allowed as little as
30 seconds to "hit the key points" of
their talks, leaving some to wonder
why they bothered to prepare the
requested five-minute presentations.
The minister and her staff referred to
this process as "informal dialogue",
filling in the remainder of the five
minute slots with non -controversial
questions about the regulations.
The presenters who had not
submitted their presentations to
OMAF 48 hours in advance as
requested were more successful at
actually being able to give their
presentations and expressed concerns
about a number of issues regarding
the Nutrient Management Act. After
the midpoint of the meeting, Johns
left to attend a cabinet meeting in
Toronto and Deputy Minister
Ingratta took over the "informal
dialogue" with participants.
David Pullen, representing the
National Farmers Union in Perth -
Oxford expressed great concern about
potential effects of NMA regulations
on small and medium-sized family
farms. Later in the week, the NFU
released their policy on the Nutrient
Management Act that recommends:
1) Permanent exemption of all
"Category 1" farms from the
regulations.
2) Postponing the implementation
of regulations for "Category 2 and 3"
farms until a round of meaningful
consultation has taken place
3) Pressuring the provincial
government to develop a proposal to
assist family farmers to bear the cost
of development, implementation and
monitoring of plans under the
Nutrient Management regulations.
The National Farmers Union has
grave concerns about the failure of
the Nutrient Management Act to limit
the size and intensity of high risk
industrial livestock operations while
failing to protect low risk small and
medium-size family farms from
undue expenses and regulations. It
appears that the Nutrient
Management Act is yet another piece
of government legislation that
favours continued industrialization
and the resulting corporate control of
the agriculture and food system.0
Local NFU -O Groups
Preparing to Tackle Issues
Affecting Family Farms
With the NFU -0 now accredited as a General Farm Organization,
small and medium sized family farms in Ontario can look forward to a
strong new voice on farm issues including nutrient management, loss of
small abattoirs, corporate control of markets and ag research, and
challenges being faced by beginning farmers. While some farm groups
seem to have aligned themselves with big technology, big bureaucracy
and the "bigger is better" model of agriculture, the NFU has remained a
grassroots organization of farmers working for farmers and for
betterment of rural communities across Canada and around the world.
On Saturday, March 15 the NFU -0 will be holding their annual
convention at Wellington Place between Fergus and Elora. The theme of
the day is "Post -Industrial Agriculture: Preparing the Way". Everyone is
welcome and information can be obtained from the Ontario office.
NFU -0 is also co -sponsoring the "Size Matters" hog producers day in
Shakespeare on February 28 featuring several renowned speakers.
NFU -0 Local Presidents:
Bruce - Mathilde Andres - 368-7417
Grey - Michael Stadtlander - 922-3128
Huron - Stephen Miller - 236-4958
Perth -Oxford - David Pullen -284-2564
Perth -Oxford Local Meeting - 2nd Thursday of each month - St. Marys
FARM BUSINESS REGISTRATION 2003
!
-THE TIME IS NOW
SHARE OUR VISION!
National Farmers Union -
Ontario Cit
`ince 1952:
optimistic, revolutionary
real grass roots leadership
Y. strong voice, sound policies and real action
supporting sustainable farming
encouraging the re-creation of local food systems
.n.challenging the corporate hijacking of agriculture
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!
IN UNIC')N IS S t RI:NG'fH
MARCH 2003 7