Letters & Submissions

June 11, 2024

Hon. Lisa Thompson, MPP
Minister of Rural Affairs
77 Grenville St., 11th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 1B3

Delivered via email

Dear Minister Thomspon,

On behalf of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Rural Affairs. We are confident that you will use your voice to support the success of rural communities and the agriculture sector in your role as Minister.

As you know, 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.

CFFO members are active in their communities and care about issues affecting rural communities and agriculture today. Key concerns among our members include:

• protecting productive farmland across the province.
• a well-functioning food processing industry, especially abattoirs.
• attracting skilled labour to agriculture and agri-businesses.
• increasing access to food animal veterinary care, especially in remote areas.
• reducing food waste.
• keeping carbon pricing costs low for food producers.
• incentivizing sustainable farming practices, like cover crops.
• improving food security for Ontario.

We are pleased to see strides have been made in many of these areas under your leadership as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and fully expect that this progress will continue under your leadership of the Ministry of Rural Affairs.

The CFFO believes that the agriculture and agrifood sector can continue to be a cornerstone of the province’s economy. We would like to request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the long-term sustainability needs of our industry.

Again, thank you for your willingness to serve our province and your commitment to safeguarding our industry. We believe you share our commitment to the long-term prosperity and sustainability of Ontario’s diverse agri-food sector. If we can be of any service to you in your work as Minister of Rural Affairs, we respectfully offer our support.

Sincerely,
Ed Scharringa, President Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario