Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Leal tries to calm processing vegetable turmoil


Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal has stepped in to try to calm farmers’ concerns over a move by his Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission to remove bargaining rights from the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Marketing Board.

I have directed the OFPMC to refrain from implementing any changes to the existing regulatory framework applicable to the vegetable processing industry until there has been a fulsome public consultation and engagement process . . .” he said in a news release.

I wonder how long Geri Kamenz can continue as commission chairman.  

Farm organizations, including the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, have been critical of the commission.

Despite his directive, effectively chiding the commission, Leal said “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the OFPMC for its ongoing commitment and work on behalf of the industry and all Ontarians as it is of vital importance to the future of our agri-food industry and Ontario’s economy.”

That leaves a big question: was this an initiative of the commission or did it come from the Liberal cabinet that's using the commission as an arm's-length tool to distance itself from inevitable farm anger? 

The commission has indicated it opened the issue because Ontario’s processing vegetable industry has been stagnant. That has never seemed to bother the commission about other marketing boards it supervises.


While processors haven’t said anything publicly, it’s clear that they would be happy to see an end to the marketing board’s bargaining powers.