No. 32 No 32 ISSN 1180-2987 Legislative Assembly Assemblée législative of Ontario de l’Ontario Second Session, 40th Parliament Deuxième session, 40e législature Official Report Journal of Debates des débats (Hansard) (Hansard) Monday 29 April 2013 Lundi 29 avril 2013 Speaker Président Honourable Dave Levac L’honorable Dave Levac Clerk Greffière Deborah Deller Deborah Deller 1630 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO 29 APRIL 2013 We do agree in the House that local food is extremely the healthiest people in the world here in Ontario and important. We’ve debated this, as the member from Canada. Beaches–East York said, and we’ve had enough conver- 1620 sation. We’re all in agreement that this act is a lot of I think the Local Food Week is an opportunity to blow fluff. Instead of this act taking action to support local our horn, maybe, champion a few things and put a stamp farmers, to employ local farmers and to provide local on a special week of the year. But let’s not forget: Our food to the Ontario consumer, this government’s act is commitment to farmers should be at least as good as their making plans for a plan. commitment has been to us. We know how important it is to have local food The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): Further production created in Ontario, and that it sustains jobs. debate? This is an industry that has been here from the moment of Mr. Garfield Dunlop: It’s a pleasure to rise today and time because growing food is a part of survival. If we speak to the Local Food Act. I know we’ve had a lot of don’t have access to local food, then we’re not going to debate on this, but it’s nice to talk about something as have access to food so we can continue to sustain wholesome and that is such an important part of our ourselves. It’s extremely important that we keep that in heritage here in the province. Almost all of our fam- mind, but by the same token, we need to pass this bill to ilies—many of our families—date back as farmers in committee because we’re all in agreement that it is a very different communities and different townships. To me, important thing to do and that local food is something it’s something that’s almost family-like. that has to be sustainable. First of all, I should tell you that my wife, the girl I We also need to make sure we’re promoting the married, was a dairy farmer’s daughter. Even today— advertising of local food and helping our farmers—not Interjection: She’s got the hair. just having a lot of fluff about how great local food is, Mr. Garfield Dunlop: She’s got the hair, yes. but having a real plan so that we can keep our farmers in Even today, we always travel the back roads wherever our economy, in a job and creating the local food that we we go so we can look at all the different farms and all want to see here in the House and that all our what’s new in the operations, because once you’ve been communities want to see in our farmers’ markets. Part of a farmer, you’re sort of a farmer for life. You’ve always that is making it a strong bill so that we can have that got that love and concern for the land. support for farmers, so they can continue on with the With that, Mr. Speaker, I should tell you that both of good work they have been doing. my children have decided in the last year to get into real The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bas Balkissoon): The estate, and they’ve both bought farms. I’m very proud of member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, you have them, because they’ve made deals with neighbouring two minutes. farmers—they both have full-time jobs—to make sure Mr. John Yakabuski: I want to thank my colleague the hay is put in place and taken off and make sure there from Beaches–East York; the Minister of Health, who are crops put in on a rotating basis. didn’t speak too long; and the members from Huron– With my daughter’s farm—she’s into horses; I think Bruce and London–Fanshawe for their comments as well. they have four horses now. They’re right across the road To the member from Huron–Bruce: Thanks for the from a farm where two of my granddaughters train horses shout-out to Crystal Mackay. It’s always great to hear all the time. So agriculture has become a very important about the fine agricultural people we have in Renfrew part of our family right now. I’m looking forward to county. I say to the member for Huron–Bruce, maybe she doing a lot of work out at their farms. I like doing can make it up to the Beachburg Fair one of these days. physical work anyhow, and I’m looking forward to It’s the first big fair in Renfrew county, always around helping them both a lot over the next few years. the 20th or the 23rd of July. It’s a great fair and it really I also want to say a few things about local food. One shows what kind of community spirit there is, and the of the things I really enjoy—I don’t know how many hard-working spirit of our agricultural people. other people in the room do this, but I love going to I appreciate all the comments that have been made, farmers’ markets. It’s a great place to meet people. You and I think that there’s an opportunity here for us all to meet the very sensible, common sense type of people, renew our commitment to our agricultural people across and they’re in there on the weekends, earning a few Ontario. They do such a tremendous job for us. Our dollars, whether it’s produce or some fruit or maple products are of the highest quality. They are safe. They syrup—that type of thing. It’s just fun to go and be part are tasty. They are nutritious. We need to spend a lot of that. Again, it goes back to our heritage and the kind more time letting the world know just how great our of people we are. All of my farmers’ markets in my products are, but more importantly, letting each other riding seem to be doing very, very well. We’ve got some know not only how good our products are but where they small ones, and we’ve got, for example, the Orillia come from. They come from your neighbours. I know Farmers’ Market, a large farmers’ market. But there are that if you live in the city of Toronto, you may not think some challenges they face. Obviously, the Local Food of that, but your neighbours are not that far away. Act—I give credit to the Premier. It’s a nice, warm and They’re outside of the city of Toronto, and they’re cozy type of legislation. It doesn’t really say an awful lot, producing the kind of quality food that makes us among except it gets a lot of debate. 29 AVRIL 2013 ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO 1631 One of the things I wanted to put on the record, ments. I have no idea who made the amendment to go though, is how can we help farmers more? Calling it a ahead and give them 22,000 more people in one little Local Food Act—I hope everyone would want to buy, township. It’s almost like a favour is being paid to some- and would buy, local food, whether it’s at the farmers’ body, you know, for something they’ve done. I don’t market or at our produce stands. I know we’ve got Ego’s know. But it’s not right, and we have to make changes. up our way; we’ve got Hewitt’s in Orillia. These are all I want to thank, first of all, the Premier for bringing people who sell really nutritious, good food. They’re the bill forward. It’s a good topic to debate. But I want to well-supported by our communities, and they’re particu- pay special attention to some of our former Ministers of larly well-supported by people who visit our commun- Agriculture, people I’ve worked with here: for example, ities, particularly in the summer months when they come Bill Stewart, Lorne Henderson, Helen Johns, Ernie to their cottages and love to go to the farmers’ markets as Hardeman in the last term, and Noble Villeneuve—Noble well. Villeneuve was my favourite minister. I met him a Just before lunch, I met with people in my riding, number of times at ROMA. He was here before I became people from Simcoe county, and they’re concerned—this elected in 1999. I understand that his daughter, Roxane, is where I think the real concerns are—how good is now our candidate up in that area. I’ve talked to her a farmland is being just crushed with this Green Energy few times. She’s just like her dad. She’s full of energy Act. I don’t know how many have seen these solar farms. and enthusiasm and will make a great member when she Whoever came up with the idea that we’re only using arrives here at Queen’s Park.