OFA’s Role in the Government of Ontario’s Open for Business Initiative

1. OFA’s Role in the Government of Ontario’s Open for Business Initiative Joe Dickenson Provincial Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture March 22, 2013

2. Ontario Federation of Agriculture • OFA is the largest general farm organization in Ontario • Mandate: • Enable prosperous and sustainable farms • 38,000 farm family members • 18 Provincial Directors • Policy Advisory Council of 87 • Research Department of 6 • Member service field staff of 20

3. Open for Business Process • OFA invited by Gov’t of Ontario to coordinate Agr & Agri-Food Strategy for Regulatory Modernization • OFA consulted organizations representing: • Producers • Suppliers of agr-inputs and services • Food processors • Various players agreed on 5 priorities

4. Agr & Agri-Food Priorities • 5 priorities identified • Engagement in regulatory development process • Review of existing regulations • Consistency and accuracy in enforcement activites • Service standards for permits and licenses and approvals • Compliance incentives

5. Priority #1 • Engagement of agricultural sector in regulatory development process • Ag sector involvement in all stages of regulatory development by OMAF • Oblige all ministries to consult with OMAF on regulations that may impact Ag sector • OMAF to develop a framework to define modern farm practices for benefit of other ministries

6. Priority #2 • Review of existing OMAF regulations • OMAF establish a government-industry working group to review and advise on existing regulations pertaining to agr • identify regs that are: • outdated • no longer meet gov’t objectives • stifle innovation

7. Priority #3 • Inspection and Enforcement Activities • Inspection and enforcement of regulations must be consistent across the province and accurate • More emphasis on communicating regulatory compliance requirements

8. Priority #4 • Service Standards • Streamline licensing, permitting, and approvals process • Establish a mechanism to address complaints (e.g. odour) and appeals (e.g. drain maintenance under the Drainage Act) that are frivolous and vexatious in nature

9. Priority #5 • Compliance Incentives • Review regulatory compliance requirements and to determine ways to incent compliance and thus minimize the need for enforcement and penalties

10. Government Response • OFA presented Agr & Agr-Food sector priorities to MEDT in May 2011 • Agr & Agri-Food Sector Forum established in Aug 2011 • Meets minimum of twice a year • OMAF Minister Chairs the meeting and OMAF Deputy Minister attends

11. Government Response • “Regulator’s Code of Practice” • Dated July 2011 and endorsed by Cabinet Secretary – Ontario’s most senior bureaucrat • A guide to all bureaucrats involved in Ontario’s regulatory process • Emphasizes risk-based, compliance-focused approach to regulation that achieves desired outcomes with minimum economic burden

12. Government Response • “Regulator’s Code of Practice” • Code mirrors many of OFA’s priorities • Involve stakeholders in policy and legislation from the outset • Develop appropriate legislation with minimum compliance burden possible • Change gov’t approach to facilitating compliance • Assist and support regulatory compliance

13. Next Steps • Hold government accountable to commitments made in “Regulator’s Code of Practice” • Assemble examples of regulatory burden for presentation to Agr & Agri-Food Sector Forum • Examples identified and supported by practitioners in Agr & Agri-Food Sector

14. Relevance to Aquaculture • Agr & Agri-Food Sector Forum can advance: • Ontario-Canada Subsidiary Agreement on Aquaculture Development • Development of Ont Aquaculture Policy • Provision by MNR of improved tenure security for aquaculture operators • An appeal process for regulatory dispute resolution

15. THANK YOU