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1
i
2 THE RURAL VOICE
Feedback
Farmers' Union
wants Peters' action
on abattoirs
Open Letter To The Honourable
Steve Peters, Ontario Minister of
Agriculture and Food
Dear Mr. Peters,
Congratulations on your
appointment as Minister of
Agriculture and Food for Ontario.
We wish you well in your transition
from critic to leader of an industry
that affects every person in the
province.
On June 18 of this year a meeting
was hosted by the National Farmer's
Union - Ontario in Stratford. This
meeting brought together farmers,
small abattoir operators, consumers
and provincial meat inspectors to
discuss serious problems facing small
abattoirs and meat inspection staff in
Ontario. A number of
recommendations were released by
the NFU -O immediately after the
meeting including:
• the reinstatement of experienced
full time inspectors specific to small
provincial abattoirs
• better treatment of contract meat
inspectors
• financial incentives for small
abattoirs to upgrade facilities
• training programs for inspectors
and meat cutters
• regulations appropriate for small
provincial plants
Unfortunately, despite attempts to
involve OMAF in this meeting, no
acknowledgement of the meeting or
of the recommendations was ever
received from the minister's office.
Sadly, it now appears that many of
the issues discussed at the June
meeting foreshadowed problems that
have come to Tight in the past few
months. These alleged problems have
seriously undermined consumer
confidence in provincially -inspected
meats which is very unfortunate
considering that meats from these
smaller plants have historically had
far fewer problems and recalls than
those from 'massive federally -
inspected plants.
Ironically, while we continue to
lose small abattoirs, there has never
been a time in Ontario's history when
the need for local meat processing
was more important than right now.
With the closure of the border to
ruminants due to the BSE fiasco and
the ongoing crash of the hog market,
family farms desperately need
marketing alternatives to ensure their
survival.
Without local processing and a
proper inspection system, it is
impossible for the small and medium
sized family farms of Ontario to
market their meat products directly to
consumers. Meanwhile, as the
income situation continues to
deteriorate for Ontario farmers, the
major processors and retailers are
rapidly tightening their stranglehold
on the food system while enjoying
unprecedented profits.
Mr. Peters, the family farms of
Ontario can no longer wait for vision
and leadership on the issue of small
meat processors and provincial meat
inspection. The membership of the
NFU -O Perth/Oxford Local requests
that your ministry immediately start
the process of overhauling the meat
inspection system and restoring
public confidence in provincially -
inspected meats. We also request that
this overhaul include programs to
ensure the survival and prosperity of
small local abattoirs for the benefit of
family farms and consumer choice in
Ontario.
The NFU -O looks forward to
providing expertise on this issue at
the public inquiry or review that has
been promised by your government.
Please follow through on this promise
and advise us as soon as possible as
to when the process will commence.0
— David Pullen, St. Marys, for the
members of the National Farmers'
Union - Ontario, Perth/Oxford Local