Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

If I were Ag Minister Ritz....I would "DO" the following...Not much mention of Agriculture in the Throne Speech. Comments?

Here is a link to the text from the Throne Speech.

 

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=2637533

 

 

What would you do if you were Agriculture Minister Ritz....what priorities would you have and where would you allocate the money/resources of the federal Agriculture Ministry.

 

The Farms.com Team.

 

 

 

 

Views: 120

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joann on March 4, 2010 at 3:57am
That was a very unfortunate commentary interfacing free market enterprise (barley vote) and supply managed system in a combined statement. It sent a bewildering mixed signal intermingled with a sense of separation of equality between farmers.

Its' as if the Throne speech sent a subtle divisive message to agriculture just ahead of the international economic discussions in Toronto this June.

What would I do if I was Minister Ritz:

1. I would find my backbone and stand up in the best interests of farmers.

2. I would pursue the conclusions of General Auditor Frasers' audit of CAIS (May/07) whereby it was found that the farm programs were not in compliance of FIPA. If there is judicious cause.... expand the audit for a complete and comprehensive operational evaluation of the Ministry.

How can Minister Ritz ensure the substantive right of the public interests' when peer reviewed legally required audits to vindicate and validate their fiduciary interests have not been performed?
Permalink Reply by Ken McCormack on March 9, 2010 at 8:56am
If I were Minister Ritz. In no particular order:

Short term:
- Continue to support the biofuels sector in conjunction with the NRC and Industry Canada.
- Widen the AgriInvest to 20% as opposed to 15%
- Establish a program in the Agri Suite for smoothing out price fluctuations in non-supply managed commodities
- While respecting the desire to continue to reduce trade barriers, establish that food products imported must prove that they have been held to the same quality standards as Canadian producers, and while a tariff may not be levied a 'Low quality Tax' may

Long term:
- work on establishing a new perception of Agriculture for the public. Instead of seeing the ministry of Agriculture as being for farmers, see it instead as the base of Canadian freedom. In so doing it can be tied into the biggest ministries.

For example, you cannot have an autonomous country that cannot feed itself, supporting food producers is about maintaining our freedom, Preventative Health Care through better nutrition, a shared campaign with the Health Ministry. More training for future generations, tying into the Education Ministry. Through biofuels and bio-plastics and other home grown renewables less reliance on hostile nations for our energy supply, this ties to Energy, Defence, Industry and Employment. With this type of relationship it could soon be shown that Agriculture is in fact the biggest ministry and should be the first order of business for the government.
Permalink Reply by Steve Twynstra on March 9, 2010 at 2:47pm
Hmmmm, interesting predicament I would be in if i woke up to find myself in Ritz's shoes.

First of all I would ditch my old Reform Party handlers that are determined to undermine any hope of progress the CPC hopes to gain in rural Ontario, especially when any viable alternative shows up next election day. I would select a national council of advisors for each of the production sectors in Canada and set a clear direction for Canadian agriculture well into the future...not just meandering aimlessly with no clear direction or vision.

This would be followed by stashing my well worn travelling suitcase into the closet so that I could spend time gaining my Ministry back from the musical chair playing bureaucrats that have made an art of obfuscating and creating only an impression of being busy working for Canadian agriculture. I would attempt to restore some credibility and sense of purpose within AAFC...in other words start making people within AAFC accountable and invigorated by having staff clearly live the vision outlined above. Armed with this vision I would be a force around Cabinet and the PMO to restore funding to AAFC making it a lead Ministry rather than a dumping ground.

Regardless, I would start putting Farmers First in practice rather than in only mere words. I would start by growing a spine and stand up to the PMO, become a visible force around Cabinet, show farmers some basic respect and courtesy, and if I disagree at least explain why rather than resort to childish amateur rebuffs....and after the dust settled, realize that at least, I showed some integrity and honesty. In other words, I would start showing that I really did have some leadership skills about me.

Failing the above, I would realize just how truly in over my head I am, and, not having the balls to resign before incurring more damage to the industry, I would at least get out into all areas of the country to TRULY listen to ALL farmers (not just party faithful at invited small soirees). In this way I would educate myself on the issues unique to certain sectors as well as the ones common across the industry. Armed with this background I would be in a position of strength to take control of my Ministry.

I truly would put Farmer First!!!
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on March 19, 2010 at 4:29am
If I were Ritz....I would figure out a way to cut off food to the politicians for a day...remind them about the importance of agriculture and food to them personally and to the Canadian economy. I think they forget that this is the economic engine for all of rural Canada.

Then we need to think of agriculture as a strategic sector of our economy and fight for each of the sectors in a proactive manner.

We import alot of manufactured products from USA, Japan, China and Europe - that gives us some significant negotiating power when we are at the trade table....especially now when our Cdn dollar is strong and our economy attractive.

We want access to markets and others to cut their subsidies and stop dumping cheap food onto the Canadian market.

I believe we can compete head to head on an equal playing field. Farmers may need some support at times when economics shift quickly such as the rise in the Canadian dollar and very low global grain and meat prices....Ritz needs to find the money and defend our farms and people.

That is what I would do

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Canada adopts ePhytos for grain shipments to Mexico

Electronic certificates eliminate longer delivery times

Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame: Five area growers named to farm shrine

Five more people have been inducted to the Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame for their longstanding involvement and contributions. John Jaques, a Thamesville-area asparagus farmer for more than 40 years, North Buxton farmers Bryan and Shannon Prince and the late Bill and Jean Sloan, Christmas tree farmers from the Bothwell area, were inducted at a ceremony at Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club Tuesday. Biographies of the newest inductees were read during the ceremony. Jaques, 74, was recognized for his substantial contributions to agriculture as an industry leader in technological and policy advancements. His accomplishments include implementing proven marketing strategies and creating disaster coverage programs and sustainability initiatives. Jaques is credited for his tireless support of Ontario’s asparagus industry hard work to develop horticulture support programs across Canada. “He was a driving force behind the SDRM (self-directed risk management) program . . . to provid

‘Two, three, four million dollars’ to inherit a farm: advocate

An advocate is calling for additional exemptions that would allow farmers to pass on their land to other family members without getting hit by what could be millions of dollars in taxes. Derryn Shrosbree, a farmer and advocate with 33seven, told CTV Your Morning on Monday that there’s an exemption for children but nieces and nephews should also be exempt, which “would be great for farming and to keep rural communities vibrant.” “There’s a lot of cases where nieces and nephews have been actively working on the farm for 10 or 15 years already, but then they can’t actually inherit the farm without massive amounts of capital gains tax,” he said. More than 40 per cent of farmers will retire by 2033, according to a 2023 report from RBC. Two thirds of those producers do not have a plan to transfer those holdings, “leaving the future of farmland in doubt,” according to the bank. The Income Tax Act grants farmers the option to transfer the property to a “child” on a tax-deferred basis but

Joe Hudson joins Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

Joe Hudson, who turned Lyn-based Burnbrae Farms into a national egg-producing powerhouse, has been posthumously inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. Hudson, who died last year at the age of 94, was one of six people formally inducted at a special ceremony in Victoria, BC on Nov. 8. Officials at the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association described Hudson as “the architect of one of Canada’s most successful agri-food businesses, transforming Canada’s egg sector with his vision for a vertically integrated model. “From humble beginnings and a few chickens, the late Joe built Burnbrae Farms into a leading pillar of Canadian agribusiness and a household name that continues to thrive with the subsequent generations, thanks to the legacy he established,” they added. Hudson was nominated by Egg Farmers of Canada. The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Po

Workwear gap leaves women in agricultural jobs underserved and unsafe

Dairy farmer Nicole Tobes was frustrated with the lack of workwear options for women in agriculture. Women's coveralls were either far pricier than what was available for men, or of an inferior quality and missing a lot of important features, like pockets, that made her workday easier. After trying, and being disappointed by, too many options, Toebes would usually just go back to wearing men's coveralls, which were ill-fitting and uncomfortable to work in. “Even if you have to pay more [for a woman's garment], I'm willing to do it to have something that makes my day easier, better, [to] get the job done,” Toebes said during a Nov. 20 online discussion hosted by the National Women in Agriculture and Agri-food Network. “I couldn't find it. So I thought, ‘Well, how hard can it be?’ And here we are, five years later.” Toebes, who's based in Prince Edward Island, is the founder and owner of AgPro Workwear, which designs and manufactures coveralls for women working in agriculture. Feat

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service