Government Relations & Advocacy

On an ongoing basis, Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) monitors and responds to legislative proposals, bills, and proposed policy and program changes. In addition, BFO’s Board of Directors and senior staff maintain close contact with MPs, MPPs, and political staff to keep the priorities for Ontario’s beef sector top-of-mind with decision makers.

Why does the Ontario Beef Sector Matter?

  • We are a leader in global sustainable beef efforts
  • We maintain one of the lowest GHG footprints of all beef systems in the world
  • We contribute $2.69 billion to Ontario’s GDP on an annual basis
  • We sustain more than 61,000 jobs through primary production, processing and retail

provincial government priorities

  1. Ensure farmers have access to sufficient risk protection to guard against increased market volatility, specifically trade threats, input cost volatility, and supply chain disruptions.
  2. Defend Ontario’s trading relationship with the United States and vigorously oppose any U.S. tariffs on Ontario agri-food products, or reciprocal tariffs that would negatively impact the beef sector, specifically cattle, beef and beef products, and other critical inputs.
  3. Conduct a formal review of the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act and its underlying regulations and operational processes. Seek to create distinct and tailored systems of enforcement and regulatory frameworks for livestock, companion animals, and zoos and aquariums, similar to what is done in other jurisdictions.
  4. Create more robust incentive structures to increase food animal veterinary capacity across Ontario, including modernization and increased funding support for the Veterinary Assistance Program (VAP).
  5. Provide funding to support an expansion of community pasture cooperatives in Ontario through infrastructure assistance, land improvement grants, and preferential financing and/or direct funding to support land acquisition.
  6. Introduce property tax relief measures through the development of a new property tax assessment class for food processors, particularly abattoirs, or through other targeted measures that will help reduce the tax burden on processors of food.
  7. Provide a government-backed guarantee under the Ontario Beef Breeder Loan Program to improve competitive financing options for farmers, particularly young farmers, and to help grow participation and access to preferential financing across the province to support cow herd growth and sector entry.
  8. Make significant new investments in meat processing capacity focused on increasing access to infrastructure grants, access to labour and skills training, market development support, and other measures that will help measurably increase processing capacity in Ontario.
  9. Pursue an amendment to the insurance requirements for custom feeding under the Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program to permit various types of farm insurance to satisfy program requirements.
  10. Seek improvements to the Predation Compensation Program by increasing compensation values for calves, removing the reasonable care plan requirement, and improving payment response timelines.
  11. Increase funding for beef research under the UofG-OMAFA Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

Federal government Priorities

  1. Defend Canada’s trading relationship with the United States and vigorously oppose any U.S. tariffs on Canadian agri-food products, specifically cattle, beef and beef products.
  2. Seek a permanent increase in the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program (APP) of at least $250K.
  3. Harmonize Canadian SRM Removal Requirements with the U.S.
  4. Remove the 100-Day Residency Requirement with the U.S.
  5. Seek an ELD Exemption for a 240 km radius around origin and destination for livestock transport.
  6. Advocate for increased investment in Meat Processing Capacity focused on increasing access to infrastructure grants, access to labour and skills training, and market development support.
  7. Continue to encourage Corrections Canada and CFIA to find a path to reopening the Joyceville Penitentiary Abattoir.
  8. Pursue improvements to the Restricted Feeder Cattle Program to make it easier to exit the program, and to more easily allow cattle movements beyond direct-to-slaughter in emergency situations (plant or border closure, human health emergency, etc.).

Why should government invest in farmers?

Partnering with Ontario farmers means more than just an added expense, it represents an investment with a proven return for the Canadian and Ontario economy.