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Investment in Ontario’s Risk Management Program Top of Mind for Beef Farmers - PC Election Platform
February 26, 2025
BFO STATEMENT
The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and its members would like to thank the Ontario PC Party for formally announcing their Party’s platform commitment to increasing Ontario’s investment in the Ontario Risk Management Program (RMP) by $100 million. The announcement, to raise the provincial investment from $150 million to $250 million, which will be phased in over three years, reflects a request that BFO and its allied members of the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) have been promoting for several years. We are extremely grateful and thankful for Rob Flack and his PC colleagues for listening to our industry and understanding the critical importance of this program, particularly given the uncertainty our members are currently facing.
Designed as a partnership between the province and non-supply managed farmers, RMP is a cost-shared insurance program that provides stability to farm operations by providing insurance for farmers against market volatility and production risks. Ontario farmers who are enrolled in the program, contribute 35 per cent of the costs through annual insurance premiums.
“This is one of the most important investments the province could make for our sector,” shares Craig McLaughlin, BFO President. “As beef farmers, we’re facing inflation and higher costs of production associated with raising livestock, fluctuating weather patterns and trade uncertainties, all of which go far beyond what we can mitigate through good management practices alone. As an association, we’ve remained steadfast in our position that the best remedy for these risks, and to help sustain our beef production and grow our economic output as a province, is to increase Ontario’s investment in the RMP.”
For several years, Ontario farmers, represented by the non-supply managed commodities and through the work of OASC, have been unified in their request for the province to increase its investment in RMP by raising the program cap from $150 million to $250 million annually to ensure farmers have the tools to manage today’s food production risks.
The Beef Farmers of Ontario represents 19,000 beef farmers in Ontario by advocating in the areas of
sustainability, animal health and care, environment, food safety, and domestic and export market development. BFO’s vision is help foster a sustainable and profitable beef industry, and have Ontario beef recognized as an outstanding product by our consumers.
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