For Immediate Release
October 2, 2008
LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS HARDEMAN’S BILL

QUEEN’S PARK – Today the Ontario Legislature unanimously passed Bill 98, Signage to Promote Ontario Grown Agricultural Food Products Act, 2008 for second reading. Bill 98 is a private member’s bill introduced by Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford and PC Critic for Agriculture and Food.

“Every summer Ontarians look for signs to direct them to the farm for fresh Ontario produce,”

said Hardeman. “Farmers depend on the on-farm sales these signs generate as an important source

of income. As the demand for locally grown food increases there will be more opportunities for our farmers and we need to ensure that red tape doesn’t stop them from meeting this demand.”

Bill 98 will allow farmers to post seasonal, directional signs advertising their Ontario Grown food products on private property adjacent to highways. Current laws prohibit signs within 400 metres

of a highway unless it displays the name of the premises, the name of the owner of the premises or a ministerial permit has been granted.

Last spring the Ministry of Transportation forced several farmers in Norfolk to remove their signs including Charles Emre, an asparagus farmer whose sign had been located in a neighbours field.

Emre estimated that without the sign his sales dropped 50 per cent.

Brenda Lammens, chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, who was at the Legislature to support the bill said: “The ability to erect a directional sign on privately owned, agriculturally zoned land makes sense for farmers and consumers. The intent is simple: to link consumers with fresh, locally produced food that might be hard to find on country side roads.”

Members from all three parties enthusiastically endorsed the bill, which passed second reading and has been referred to committee.

“I am very pleased at the support this bill has received from farmers, agricultural groups and now the Ontario Legislature,” said Hardeman. “I hope that we can move this bill forward to committee hearings quickly to support our farmers and help Ontarians once again follow the signs to discover great locally grown food – straight from the farm.”

- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239

Backgrounder

Support for Bill 98, Signage to Promote
Ontario Grown Agricultural Food Products Act, 2008

“I was very pleased to hear Mr. Hardeman was introducing a Private Members’ Bill addressing the issue of signage to promote agriculture. I believe this is a positive step to support agriculture, Ontario Farmers and the economy as well as making fresh produce more available to all Ontarians.”
Charles Emre, Asparagus Farmer, Norfolk

“In Renfrew County local farmers have experienced problems trying to advertise their food product at the gate. We in the NFU hope that Mr. Hardeman’s bill around highway signage manages to get past partisanship and passes at the legislative level.”
Dave Mackay, President, Renfrew County National Farmers Union

“This bill addresses on a very practical level the “access” issue for consumers to easily find the “local” food they are being encouraged to incorporate into their healthy diet choices, and local community economic health.”
Lyndon Stewart, Executive Director, 4-H Ontario

“I would be glad to support your bill in any way I can. I am surprised the Ontario Government hasn’t recognized the importance and necessity for what the Bill will do to help our farmers survive in these difficult days.”
T.I. Hughes, President, Canadian Farm Animal Care Trust

“The Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association acknowledges the difficulties facing growers who wish to promote on-farm sales and the problems caused by inconsistent enforcement and over regulation by government. Growers need to be freed from red tape and be allowed to market their crops in ways that are profitable.”
Tom Wiley, President, Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association

 “I support your private members bill providing Ontario farmers an exemption from existing legislation.”
Doug Macpherson, Consultant, Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario

“Mr. Hardeman is to be congratulated for taking this step towards helping farmers and eaters find each other.”
Grant Robertson, National Farmers Union

“As an industry that relies heavily on farm gate freezer trade we the Board support your bill and its intentions to make it easier for our 3,900 producers to use farm-advertising signage.”
Allan Burn, Chair, Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency

“The unique challenge for farmers seeking seasonal sales is that many aren’t located on the well-traveled provincial highways and so both farmers and consumers have come to rely on directional signs to help people find when crops are being harvested and where they are available.”
Anne Howden Thompson, Ontario Farmer

“Our industry has a great tradition of on-farm sales and this bill would help ensure this tradition continues.”
Kevin, Schooley, Executive Director, Ontario Berry Growers Association