Strength in unity – and why that matters for Ontario’s farmers

By Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Last week, the leading advocate and strongest voice for farmers in our province, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), held its annual general meeting. For me, it was a tremendous honour to be selected for a third term as OFA’s president.

The event brought together delegates, directors, commodity partners, staff and industry leaders from across the province. It was a chance to look back on the year that was, but just as importantly, to look ahead to the challenges and opportunities in front of us.

It was about this time last year, also during our annual convention, that the U.S.’s then-President-elect Donald Trump first floated the idea of a broad tariff on Canadian exports to the United States.

Many of us could hardly believe something so sweeping could ever come to pass. Yet here we are, twelve months later, and the global landscape around us has shifted dramatically.

South of the border, the political climate remains volatile and here at home, we’ve had significant upheaval of our own. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament and stepped down as Liberal leader, paving the way for Mark Carney’s leadership and a subsequent federal election that resulted in a minority Parliament.

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford surprised many by calling a snap provincial election. These developments have shaped policy priorities, altered political dynamics, and created uncertainty for businesses, families and farm operations across the province.

Politics has always influenced the lives of OFA members, but as our keynote speaker Althia Raj reminded us, understanding the political landscape is easier said than done.

A long-time political journalist, member of the Parliamentary press gallery and CBC At Issue panellist, Raj brought a clear, thoughtful breakdown of how we arrived at this moment, from the 2024 U.S. election to the rise of Mark Carney, to what we can expect from Canada’s new Prime Minister going forward.

She also reflected on the broader erosion of trust in Canada’s media landscape. Today, opinions spread faster than facts, polarizing statements are rewarded by online algorithms, and in-depth journalism is increasingly difficult to sustain.

For organizations like ours that rely on evidence, data and practical experience to advocate effectively on behalf of our members, this only underscores how important it is to stay grounded in facts, to communicate clearly, and to build broad, credible partnerships.

The theme of this year’s AGM, Strength in Unity, couldn’t have been more fitting. Over the past year, we’ve seen remarkable examples of what happens when people work together.

Whether it’s the Council of the Federation aligning around shared priorities, first ministers taking a “Canada first” approach, or agriculture ministers collaborating on trade and tariff impacts, progress has come when governments are rowing in the same direction.