OFA Statement: Update on return of fertilizer tariffs paid by Ontario farmers

submitted to EFP

In 2022, the Canadian government-imposed tariffs on fertilizer sourced from Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This has placed added financial burden on farmers who are already facing record high fertilizer prices and pressures from inflation and rising interest rates.

Since the tariffs were imposed, the OFA has been actively working on this issue on behalf of its membership and asking for a fair resolution to the tariff issue for farmers. OFA has participated in many meetings with federal government representatives, including federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP Francis Drouin who serves as Parliamentary Secretary to Minister Bibeau, and MP Kody Blois who also chairs the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

From the onset, OFA’s preferred solution has been the reimbursement of fertilizer tariff dollars collected by the federal government back to farmers who paid them. This is a similar position that other farm organizations have put forward.

Minister Bibeau, Parliamentary Secretary Drouin and federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland continue to reiterate their commitment to working towards a fair resolution to the tariff issue for the agriculture sector. When the federal government made it clear that a refund of tariffs was not on the table, the OFA worked to develop and propose alternative ways to ensure these dollars were returned to agriculture.

OFA has been actively promoting these options to the federal government, which include:

• Development of a new program or an investment by the federal government into an existing program that provides easy, direct payments to farmers for implementation of Best Management Practices particularly around emission reduction.

• Establishment of a tax rebate to return dollars directly to farmers.

• Investment in the development of domestic nitrogen production in Eastern Canada.

The founding principles of any method to return the fertilizer tariff funds to the agriculture industry must include:

Simplicity. Any compensation program should be easy for farmers to apply to and simple for the government to administer.

Palatable. The federal government has made it clear that any compensation can’t be directly tied to or perceived as being directly tied to farmers who paid the tariffs.

Direct. Given the disproportionate impact on farmers in Eastern Canada, any program must return dollars directly to farmers in Ontario.

Timeliness. Any compensation program should provide payments to farmers as quickly as possible.

OFA continues to advocate on behalf of its members to the federal government and impress upon them the urgency of moving forward with a fair resolution for returning tariff dollars back to agriculture.

Streets Behind” program.

The Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Provincial Command also provided a $400,000 donation to Operation Service Dog, a partnership between Wounded Warriors Canada and Ontario Command & Branches that began in 2018.

Sweeny said this is a tried, true, and proven program that pairs veterans with Post Traumatic Stress with a service dog.

A service dog, she explained, has to be trained for two-years before it can be placed with a veteran, who also has to be trained with their new canine companion. Sometimes, the dogs in training may not pass through the program. This makes the training expensive.

The funds forwarded to the Good Shepherd Housing Navigation Team and the Operation Service Dog was raised in part through Legion Branches that participate in poppy tagging around Remembrance Day. Ladies’ Auxiliary groups at Legion Branches also fundraise through hosting dinners and other fundraisers.

“It is the generosity of the 393 Branches and the Ladies’ Auxiliary in Ontario that allow us to present these cheques,” Sweeny said.

The Ontario Command pledged $500,000 to the Sunnybrook Veterans Cenotaph Project. Over the next fiveyears, $100,000 will be sent to support the refurbishing of the original Sunnybrook Veterans Centre Cenotaph on Bayview Avenue in Toronto. Representatives received their first of five cheques at the event.

In addition to being refurbished, the area will be designed to be more accessible. Benches will also be added, so individuals can sit and reflect, Sweeny said.

“It is so important for the veterans to be able to go through the gardens and have a moment to reflect on those who didn’t come home,” she said.

Wreath-laying ceremonies are held at this cenotaph during Remembrance Day.

This is Canada’s largest war veterans’ care facility. It was also Canada’s first military hospital, when veterans were returning home after WWII, Sweeny said.

With over 600 members, the Essex Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 201) has the largest membership in Southwestern Ontario.

Across the province, Legion membership is up, Sweeny said. To anyone who has served – and their family – the Legion offers a one-year free membership. They can join a holding Branch and then visit various Legion facilities, then have their membership transferred to the Legion they enjoy the most.

As outreach programs that promote comradery, the Legion also offers the “Buddy Check Coffee” program to younger veterans, where they can chat with peers. “Operation Vet Build” invites veterans to gather and build models.

Essex Legion Branch President, Dave Renaud, said though the annual Poppy Campaign, the Essex Legion tries to keep as much raised locally as possible to help area veterans. Donations are also made, based on what the Branch can afford, to support the service dogs and homeless veteran programs.

“Essex is very supportive,” Renaud said, noting through the annual Poppy Campaign, what the Essex Legion is able to collect is huge, compared to some communities that are a lot bigger. “The people in Essex are very generous, and I think that is because they know the money is spent locally, as much as we can, for the people who need it.”

The Essex Legion hosts a lot of functions, community meals, and fundraisers that support veterans, youth groups, sports group sponsorships, and seniors, and community members always get behind those initiatives, Renaud said. “Essex is just unbelievable for getting behind anything going on for the community.”

The Ladies’ Auxiliary at the Essex Branch, he added, also raises funds and donate that money back into the community and the Legion as well.

Anyone who would like to become a member of the Essex Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion can stop in and speak to a bar steward for an application. The Executive and membership look at the applications for approval.