Farmland

Union Farmer Newsletter: September 2023

In this issue: “Let them eat concrete” Ontario’s farmers are fed up with the Greenbelt giveaways Farmers unite to defeat Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) unfair change to grading standards NFU Read more

Rouge National Urban Park regional impact study good news, says NFU and NFU-O

The NFU/NFU-O is supportive of any government measures that: a) increase existing protections of agricultural and natural heritage lands; b) thwart construction on any land removed from the Greenbelt; and/or c) expand safeguards to any unprotected farmland or ecologically-sensitive areas in danger of development. We are optimistic that Minister Guilbeault’s study will encompass adjacent land currently held by Transport Canada and ideally suited to be included within Rouge National Urban Park.  We commend Minister Guilbeault and the ECCC for proactively initiating a study that will bolster the already substantive evidence that any development within the sensitive Rouge River corridor will only accelerate surface runoff, water and soil pollution, and biodiversity loss. Protecting our remaining natural heritage and agricultural lands is vital to sustaining life for future generations.  Read more

Letter – Crown land leaseholders deserve vote

I am calling — and lease holders need to call for – the provincial government to hold a referendum amongst agricultural Crown land leaseholders from 2015 to now and ask the critical question: Do leaseholders wish to see the province stop its highest bidder system and restore the points-based system and more reasonable leasing fees? Read more

NFU encourages land donations for Community Land Trusts

Canada is facing a farmland crisis. If left unaddressed, it will only worsen as farmer demographics shift drastically over the next decade. The need to address barriers to access for Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: February 2023

In this issue: Advocating for farmland protection in Ontario Towards a National Agricultural Labour Strategy that works for Farmers and Farm Workers Public transit should not stop at the city Read more

Letter – Protect the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve

On January 10, 2022 the NFU’s National President and NFU Ontario President sent the following letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling on the federal government to transfer ownership of Read more

Get big or get out the track hoe

How agricultural policy drives farmland drainage by Cathy Holtslander, Director of Research and Policy The National Farmers Union is a direct-membership organization made up of Canadian farm families who share Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: September 2022

In this issue: Seed Regulatory Modernization – What’s it all about? Pest Management Regulatory Agency Legislative Review Putting Limits on Farmland Investment Companies Seed Regulatory Modernization – What’s it all Read more

Alberta MLA and Quebec MNA showing leadership on farmland ownership, says NFU

The National Farmers Union (NFU) applauds Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock United Conservative MLA Glenn van Dijken for bringing forward Alberta’s Bill 206, the Prohibiting Ownership of Agricultural Lands (Pension Plans and Trust Corporations) Read more

Letter to Ag Ministers – Towards the Next Policy Framework 

At your 2021 conference in Guelph, Agriculture Ministers agreed upon a set of goals, guiding principles and priorities for the Next Policy Framework. There are many good ideas and values expressed in the Guelph Statement, including commitments to climate action, sustainability and resilience, increasing participation of underrepresented, equity-deserving groups, and increasing public trust in our food system. These need to be top priorities, and not sidelined or undermined as a result of pursuing other goals in ways that conflict with the need for a stable and liveable climate, social cohesion and justice.  Read more