Letters & Submissions

August 3, 2022
Mr. Scot Davidson, MP
York-Simcoe
45 Grist Mill Road, Suite 10
Holland Landing, ON L9N 1M7

Re: Bill C-280 “The Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act.”

Dear Mr. Davidson,

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) is an Accredited Farm Organization representing the interests of over 4,000 farm families in Ontario who are called to the vocation of farming. CFFO policy promotes economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable farming, advocating that farmers receive fair return for their production and stewardship efforts.

We are writing to indicate our support for your Private Member’s Bill C-280, “An Act to Amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (deemed trust—perishable fruit and vegetables).” This Bill, if enacted, would establish a deemed trust mechanism that would significantly strengthen the financial protection for fresh fruit and vegetable farmers, especially in the event of purchaser bankruptcy. We are pleased that Bill C-280 would also create favourable conditions for the reinstatement of preferential treatment for Canadian farmers selling into the US market.

Farmers face a lot of risks, be they from weather, markets, supply disruptions and many others. Farmers marketing highly perishable items such as fresh fruit and vegetables face additional risks because of the nature of their product. This Bill provides stronger financial protection to ensure fresh fruit and vegetable farmers receive payment for their product. This will increase the economic stability of these farm businesses and benefit our overall food security.

We hope that MPs in all parties will see the value of supporting your Private Member’s Bill as a way to support farmers producing fresh fruit and vegetables. Agriculture is an industry vital to our food supply, health and economic prosperity.

Thank you for your support for farmers.

Sincerely,

Ed Scharringa, President
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario
cc: Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Hon. Lisa Thompson, MPP, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario