GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
The value of ongoing relationships with
storage, perimeter fencing and expansion
In late November, the governments of
Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members
activities, and development and expansion
Canada and Ontario made a financial
of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) became
of the province’s processing facilities
commitment of $4 million through the
more and more pronounced over the course
through infrastructure enhancements,
Canadian Agricultural Partnership for a new
of 2020, as face-to-face meetings became
access to labour, and market development.
“Meat Processors Capacity Improvement
near impossible due to COVID-19. Despite the challenges, BFO directors and staff were able to keep Ontario’s beef industry issues and initiatives top-of-mind for many politicians and government staff. BFO also coordinated a grassroots lobbying effort to encourage other provinces to join us in reaching out to MPs and MPPs on shared interests and concerns. The closure of Ryding-Regency heightened the importance of addressing processing capacity issues in eastern Canada and securing direct financial assistance for beef producers struggling from prolonged market losses. In June, BFO welcomed an announcement by federal and provincial ministers of $5 million for an Ontario cattle set-aside program to help manage potential backlogs in processing due to COVID-19. BFO has also focused on sufficient funding for the Ontario Risk Management Program, enhancements to AgriStability, tweaks to the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to allow cost-share funding for manure
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BFO ANNUAL REPORT 2021
BFO did not host its annual Queen’s Park Beef Barbecue this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but directors were able to connect with MPPs and political and ministry staff virtually. Some directors were also able to attend on-farm meetings, adhering to social distancing protocols. In July, the province shared some good news by announcing they would contribute an additional $50 million across the RMP sectors for the 2020 program year, fulfilling in part a campaign commitment by the Conservative Party. In August, BFO President, Rob Lipsett, and BFO Executive Director, Richard Horne, presented to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, highlighting the need for enhancements to business risk management programming for Ontario’s beef farmers in addition to finding solutions to the lack of processing capacity in eastern Canada.
Initiative”, providing up to $150,000 per project for improvements to product handling and processing equipment at Ontario’s meat processors and abattoirs. This was positive news for the sector, but we know more needs to be done to ensure our industry as a whole remains viable and competitive. Leading up to the federal-provincialterritorial ministers of agriculture meeting in late November, President Rob Lipsett met (virtually) with Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman on a few occasions in preparation for the Minister’s participation in topics related to the beef industry. Also, BFO directors participated in two virtual federal lobby days with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). The first set of meetings was focused on the federal suite of business risk management programs and the second round of discussions focused on enhancements to AgriStability and the growing trade imbalance between Canada and the European Union and the United Kingdom. With the United Kingdom leaving
