The board of directors for the Ontario Processing Vegetables
Marketing Board has been dismissed and all contracts for production this year
are open for negotiation.
Elmer Buchanan is in charge. He is a former Ontario agriculture
minister under the NDP government of former premier Bob Rae.
Jim Clark, chairman of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing
Commission, has posted the following statement on the commission’s website
today:
“To
facilitate the government's decision to appoint a trustee, the Commission used
its authority under the Farm Products Marketing Act to terminate OPVG's member
appointments to all negotiating agencies for 2017 and give the trustee the
power to appoint new members within 14 days.
“Upcoming
negotiating deadlines for tomatoes, carrots, cabbage and green and waxed beans
have been extended by 14 days.
“This
was a difficult decision that was not made lightly. It was based on tensions
within the sector over the last several months and, more recently, by a breakdown
in negotiations between growers and processors which was endangering this
year's tomato crop.
“Not
taking this action now would likely have negative effects on the 2017 crop
size, which would have had consequences on the livelihoods of Ontario farmers
and the provincial economy as a whole.
“Today's
decision is a temporary measure to help reinvigorate the processing vegetable
sector. Board elections will be held later this year, in time for the 2018
growing season.
“I want
to make it clear that today's decision was based on unique circumstances and
the Commission, along with the Ontario government, continues to support
regulated marketing.”
