Seeking a reasonable approach

Ron Bonnett,
President,
Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ontario livestock farmers and their organizations are in search of a solution to the confrontations that are taking place across the province between farmers and the Federal Department of the Environment.
The Department is responsible for enforcing a portion of the Fisheries Act that, when enforced as written, can result in a farmer being fined up to 300,000 dollars or spending six months in jail if livestock is allowed to set foot in a stream or river adjacent to that farmer’s property.
A representative of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association made a presentation to the January board meeting of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture on the subject. He indicated a high level of frustration exists within the farming community with the way the Department is proceeding with its responsibilities, under the law.
OCA, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and OMAF are working on Best Management Practices which identify preferred methods of managing livestock next to water courses. These practices recognize that a total ban on water access is not always possible and there are ways to minimize impact on the environment and fish habitat.
Ontario farmers have a clear understanding and appreciation for the need to protect the environment. Most have prepared Environmental Farm Plans for their operations, and many follow Best Management Practices that set out the best possible ways of protecting the environment within a farming operation.
At the same time, however, farmers are practical people who usually want to see a demonstrated benefit from any investment they make on their farms. The Department of the Environment seems too anxious to use the punishment hammer of enforcement rather than introduce an educational component to their efforts.
The question has to be asked: are government departments talking to each other? As mentioned, Department of Fisheries and Oceans is working with farmers to develop practical solutions to livestock access while the Department of the Environment takes a black and white, all-or-nothing approach.
This is why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association would encourage the Federal Department of the Environment to look at how some other departments at the Federal level rely on educating the public to reduce potential incidents of contravening the law.
OFA directors voted in favour of co-ordinating a lobby effort with the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association to find a practical approach to the interpretation and enforcement of regulatory provisions of the Fisheries Act.
We want farmers to be able to comply with the law, avoiding huge fines and possible time in jail because their livestock have entered a waterway that crosses their property. It is also important to the farming community that the adversarial approach being employed by Department of the Environment officials be replaced with an educational approach.
All it takes to set off an investigation by the Department of the Environment is an anonymous complaint - it could be a disgruntled neighbour seeking revenge or a casual siting by a stranger passing by.
OFA believes Ontario farmers have demonstrated for decades their concern and desire to protect the environment. We want to work with our government officials to preserve and protect the environment, but we also want evidence of a more reasonable approach to enforcement.