Letters & Submissions

September 23, 2022

Honourable Lisa Thompson, MPP
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
77 Grenville St. 11th Floor
Toronto, ON, M7A 1B3

Ontario Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program

Dear Minister Thompson,

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) is an Accredited Farm Organization representing the interests of over 4,000 farm families in Ontario who are called to the vocation of farming. CFFO policy promotes economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable farming, advocating that farmers receive fair return for their production and stewardship efforts.

We appreciate the many efforts your government has put forward to support the ongoing viability of agriculture across Ontario. We are writing to express our appreciation in particular for the ongoing success of the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program. This program has many benefits for farmers and farmland protection across Ontario.

• The requirement to demonstrate ownership by Canadian citizens or permanent residents encourages keeping our productive farmland in domestic ownership.
• The requirement to demonstrate that the farmland is being used by an active farm business, with a valid FBR number, ensures our farmland continues to be actively farmed.
• MPAC assessments of farm property continue to ensure fair assessment of farm property and its value based primarily on farm-to-farm sales.

Ensuring all three aspects of the program continue to be requirements and work appropriately together encourages the ongoing productivity of our valuable agricultural land and supports the viability of farm businesses across the province.

This program is also expertly delivered by Agricorp, with excellent follow up when farm properties are sold to ensure ongoing eligibility for the property under this program. Our members in particular have commented on the positive experiences they have had with Agricorp under this program.

We hope you will share our commendations for the efforts to support the viability of agriculture in Ontario, especially through this program, with all whose efforts ensure its success, including MPAC, Agricorp, local municipalities, OMAFRA and the Ontario government beyond.

We thank you for your ongoing service to Ontario farmers and the broader public good.

Sincerely,

Ed Scharringa, President
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario