The Rural Voice, 2003-06, Page 9National 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 meets with Ontario Liberal Caucus
The National Farmers Union
presented a brief that included a wide
range of unique and affordable
solutions to the problems plaguing
Ontario farmers and citizens in
rural communities when it met with
the Ontario Liberal Caucus in April.
The brief is available at
www.nfu.ca/on
The NFU pointed out that Ontario
farmers had quadrupled production
and exports and, despite this,
farmers' net incomes had fallen.
Close to $70 billion in increased
wealth generated by farm families
has disappeared off Ontario farms
over the past 25 years.
The delegation told caucus
members that the NFU has been
unique in advocating solely in the
interests of farm families. Other
organizations talk about solutions that
are good for 'agriculture' and for 'the
industry.' The interests of family
farmers are different from the
interests of the industry. To stop the
loss of farm families and the bleeding
of wealth and people from rural
areas, fundamentally different
policies are necessary. The NFU, in
its brief to the Liberal Caucus,
presented some of that new
thinking.0
"Local Food Security, Family Farm Survival and the
Importance of Small Abattoirs" - A Discussion on the Loss of
Small Abattoirs in Canada
Date:
Location:
Sponsor:
Admission:
Wednesday, June 18th — 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Stratford Army and Navy Hall, Lorne Avenue Stratford just off Erie St. (Highway #7)
National Farmers Union – Perth/Oxford Local
Donation to cover cost of lunch and hall.
Background:
Plan to attend this important forum on the Small Abattoir crisis. At a time when consumers are more
and more interested in how and where their meats are produced, small butcher shops that can process
specialty meats from family farms are rapidly disappearing.
Farmers producing organic, ",natural" and specialty meats rely heavily on small abattoirs since all
meats sold must be inspected at government approved facilities. The NFU fully supports the food
safety aspects of the inspection system but fears that many of the regulations being imposed on small
meat processors are more applicable to large plants and are forcing small operators out of business.
In light of recent events in the meat industry there has never been a more critical time to encourage
the development of a strong local food processing and distribution system to ensure local food
security and family farm survival.
Speakers will include;
Fanners involved in the direct marketing of meats
Consumers/chefs seeking locally raised meats
Meat inspection representative and abattoir operators
Provincial political party representatives
Speakers will be followed by a short question/answer/comment session and a light lunch featuring
locally raised meats and prepared by local chefs.
JUNE 2003 5