Leaders Step Up to the Plate in Preparation for Friday’s Convention
Posted: January 24, 2013
Categories: Events / Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario / Policy News
As we head into the Liberal Leadership race this weekend, Sustain Ontario has done a round-up of where the candidates stand on food and farming. Many have made commitments that align with some of Sustain Ontario’s policy and program suggestions. Here’s the dirt.
Sandra Pupatello
Released “The Plan Forward: Rural Ontario” in December 2012 outlining a three-point plan for prosperity in rural Ontario, which includes:
- reintroducing the Local Food Act, including opportunities to create unique brands for the foods the province produces as well as taking advantage of global opportunities.
- exploiting agri-food and bioproduct opportunities, and
- developing rural tourism potential.
See the details of her plan here.
Eric Hoskins
Launched a “Respect for Rural Ontario Plan” in November 2012, where he outlined initiatives to support a “stronger rural Ontario”. Some of these initiatives include:
- convene a Premier’s Summit on Rural Ontario and a Premier’s Food Summit on an annual basis;
- support supply chain management
- reintroduce legislation to enact the Local Food Act
See the full document here.
Kathleen Wynne
Included agriculture and rural Ontario as one of her top priorities. In her platform, she has included re-introduction of the Local Food Act as well as on-going agriculture regulatory reform, a one-window approach to agriculture programs, and she has committed to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Most recently, she wrote Food Forward discussing her position on Ontario’s Food. Read the full article here.
Harinder Takhar
Developed a detailed plan aimed at ensuring Ontario’s rural communities are able to “foster sustainable economic growth”. Some initiatives include:
- Reintroduce the Local Food Act
- Cut red tape – develop one stop portal for Ontario Farmers
- Increase exports and market access of Ontario’s agricultural products
- Establish an Agricultural Research, Innovation and Development Fund
See his full rural platform here.
Gerard Kennedy
Has yet to release a comprehensive plan on engaging rural communities or how he plans on incorporating food issues into the agenda. He released a statement promising to represent every region in Ontario before moving forward on major decisions. See his statement here.
Charles Sousa
Has a rural economic development plan, focusing on more than agriculture. His plan will:
- Act upon local input into decision-making and build municipal partnerships
- Support industries like auto, primary and secondary manufacturing and food processing
- Provide industry with the right tools to create jobs by promoting innovation and attracting investment
- Support small businesses by making access to the Southwestern and Eastern Ontario Development Funds easier, simpler and permanent.
See the statement he released here.