MPPs Learn about Organic Sector Priorities at OCO’s MPP Engagement Day

September 28, 2016 Laura Northey

On Sept. 21st, over 35 provincial members of Parliament joined in the Organic Council of Ontario (OCO)’s MPP Engagement Day at Queen’s Park.

OCO members met with over 14 MPPs from ridings across Ontario to provide information about the issues and communicate potential solutions. Following these meetings, OCO held a food and drink reception catered by OCO member businesses, which was very well attended by both MPPs and staffers.

The three key issues brought to the table were:

The sector’s desire to protect the “Organic” claim with regulation in Ontario;
The need for dedicated, comprehensive, and stable funding for Ontario’s organic sector;
The negative effects that further development and use of GE alfalfa may have on the organic sector.

The reception was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, the Honourable Dave Levac, MPP (Brant). We were warmly welcomed by the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture Grant Crack, MPP (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell), and NDP Agriculture Critic John Vanthof, MPP (Timiskaming-Cochrane). We met with PC Agriculture Critic Toby Barrett, MPP (Haldimand-Norfolk), and were also joined by MPPs from Elgin-Middlesex-London, London-Fanshawe, Leeds-Grenville, Dufferin-Caledon, Toronto-Danforth, Kitchener-Conestoga, Oxford, Barrie and Hamilton.

Thank-you so much to Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables, Enfleurage Organics, K2 Milling, Yorkshire Valley Farms, Beau’s All-Natural Brewing Company, Southbrook Vineyards, Toronto Distillery Co., Avalon Orchards and Field Gate Organics for making the day such a success.