Why farmers show up at one of Ontario’s biggest political events – and why it matters

Last week, leaders from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) joined more than 2,000 elected officials and staff at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference in Ottawa.

Although it’s likely an event most Ontarians have never heard of, it’s one of the most important political gatherings in our province, bringing together municipal leaders from across Ontario alongside provincial cabinet ministers, MPPs, and government officials.

I attended in my capacity as a farmer and executive member of the OFA’s provincial board, where I represent farmers from Peel, Simcoe and York. My wife and I, along with our son Alex, raise broiler chickens and grow corn, soybeans, cereal grains and hay in Lafontaine just west of Penetanguishene – but in the past, I’ve also served as Deputy Mayor of our local municipality.

For Ontario’s farmers, this event is more than just another conference. According to AMO’s own statistics, municipalities across the province together own, operate, and maintain nearly half a trillion dollars’ worth of infrastructure — roads, bridges, transit, water, waste management systems and more.

Local governments are also responsible for decisions that directly affect how we live and work, from taxation and building permits to land use planning and economic development initiatives. Having agriculture at the table ensures that farm families and rural communities are part of those conversations.

This is important because collectively, agriculture and food contribute more than $50 billion to our provincial economy every year and support over 871,000 jobs. Put in another way, we employ 11% of Ontario’s workforce.

For the last number of years, members of the OFA board and staff have been attending the AMO conference because it’s a unique opportunity to engage directly with the decision makers who shape our rural landscape.

Our discussions focus on the issues that matter most to Ontario farmers: protecting farmland through sound land use planning, ensuring investment in rural physical and social infrastructure, and supporting the economic vitality of rural Ontario. A strong rural economy supports a strong provincial economy.

This year, the severe drought impacting much of the province was a top-of-mind discussion. Farmers are feeling the effects on their crops and livestock, and it underscored the need for municipal and provincial leaders alike to understand the importance of resilient infrastructure and responsive support systems in rural areas.