12-Month Lobbying Summary - Consultant

Details Regarding the Identified Subject Matter

Subject matters	Details	Categories
Economic Development	Boosting rural economic development. Foster economic development in all areas of Ontario by supporting more Agri-tourism and local food offerings in our communities, which in turn will create jobs. This includes, for example, encouraging the broader public sector, such as long term care facilities and educational institutions, to include more locally grown food products in their purchasing decisions.	Policies or Program
Energy	Energy: rural Ontario needs affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to fuel growth and keep businesses economically viable, including electricity, natural gas and alternative energy options. We advocate to continue expansion of natural gas lines in rural, northern and remote communities.	Policies or Program
Environment	Environment and climate change. Climate change is a global challenge and impacts Ontario farmers. OFA is working with government to recognize climate change’s current and pending impact on Ontario farm businesses, the importance of adaptation within the agricultural sector to the impacts of climate change, and to provide research and investments to help farmers adapt.	Policies or Program
Municipalities	Farm and road safety. Discussions surrounding the importance of keeping farmers, employees, families and everyone on the farm team safe. On the farm and on the road.	Policies or Program
Taxation and Finance	Farm property tax. OFA continues to push for legislative changes that will improve the transparency of assessment and taxation of Ontario farm properties.	Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
Agriculture	Food security and food supply chain. encourage the procurement of locally grown food across the public sector to strengthen and enhance Ontario’s food supply chain and provinicial economy.	Policies or Program
Infrastructure	Improving rural infrastructure and services. This means continued and expanded investments into rural roads and bridges, high speed internet and reliable cellular services, and affordable energy. It also means increased social infrastructure including schools, healthcare and community hubs that will attract workers and their families to rural Ontario and help alleviate critical labour shortages.	Policies or Program
Labour	Labour shortages. Addressing unfilled vacancies and shortages in the agriculture industry. Finding solutions and working to develop strategies to fill vacancies.	Policies or Program
Housing	Planning for housing affordability and responsible long term land use. Developing and implementing policies that limit the loss of agricultural land, intensify residential development in Ontario’s existing footprint, and encourage smart growth and development that will meet the current and future needs of Ontarians and they provincial economy.	Policies or Program
Agriculture	wildlife damage and compensation. Ontario farmers constantly face livestock and crop damage from wildlife. Compensation programs are important to farmers who deal with the loss of livestock and crops because of wildlife.	Policies or Program

• Subject matter details in previous versions

  Details Regarding the Identified Subject Matter

  Subject matters	Details	Categories
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Boosting rural economic development. Foster economic development in all areas of Ontario by supporting more Agri-tourism and local food offerings in our communities, which in turn will create jobs. This includes, for example, encouraging the broader public sector, such as long term care facilities and educational institutions, to include more locally grown food products in their purchasing decisions.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Energy: rural Ontario needs affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to fuel growth and keep businesses economically viable, including electricity, natural gas and alternative energy options. We advocate to continue expansion of natural gas lines in rural, northern and remote communities.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Environment and climate change. Climate change is a global challenge and impacts Ontario farmers. OFA is working with government to recognize climate change’s current and pending impact on Ontario farm businesses, the importance of adaptation within the agricultural sector to the impacts of climate change, and to provide research and investments to help farmers adapt.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Farm and road safety. Discussions surrounding the importance of keeping farmers, employees, families and everyone on the farm team safe. On the farm and on the road.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Farm property tax. OFA continues to push for legislative changes that will improve the transparency of assessment and taxation of Ontario farm properties.	Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Food security and food supply chain. encourage the procurement of locally grown food across the public sector to strengthen and enhance Ontario’s food supply chain and provinicial economy.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Improving rural infrastructure and services. This means continued and expanded investments into rural roads and bridges, high speed internet and reliable cellular services, and affordable energy. It also means increased social infrastructure including schools, healthcare and community hubs that will attract workers and their families to rural Ontario and help alleviate critical labour shortages.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Labour shortages. Addressing unfilled vacancies and shortages in the agriculture industry. Finding solutions and working to develop strategies to fill vacancies.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	Planning for housing affordability and responsible long term land use. Developing and implementing policies that limit the loss of agricultural land, intensify residential development in Ontario’s existing footprint, and encourage smart growth and development that will meet the current and future needs of Ontarians and they provincial economy.	Policies or Program
  Subject matters were not required to be associated with subject matter details when this content was submitted	wildlife damage and compensation. Ontario farmers constantly face livestock and crop damage from wildlife. Compensation programs are important to farmers who deal with the loss of livestock and crops because of wildlife.	Policies or Program

  Subject matters in previous versions

  • Agriculture

  Subject matters added through a communication report:

  • Agriculture
  • Transportation
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture
  • Economic Development
  • Infrastructure
  • Internal Trade
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture

Government Institutions

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
• House of Commons

Communication techniques

Communication techniques that have been used or are expected to be used in the course of the undertaking:

• Grass-roots communication
• Oral communication
• Written communication
• Arrange one or more meetings

Tracey Arts, Member of the Board of Directors for the organization (Business address and contact information)

No public offices held