Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Political approval for tax break on food donation


The agriculture committee of the Ontario legislature has approved Bill 104, drafted by Tory backbencher Bob Bailey of Sarnia, to grant farmers a charitable-donation tax receipt for food they donate to food banks.

It’s Bailey’s third attempt to get the legislation enacted and the third time it has gained widespread political support. The previous attempts fell into a void when the legislature prorogued before passing his bills.

Tory agriculture critic and former agriculture minister Ernie Hardeman a tax break for donors “will help get more fresh local food to those who need it the most.”

Among farmers pushing hardest for the legislation are produce growers in the Bradford Marsh who annually plow down, or trash, thousands of pounds of perfectly nutritious fresh vegetables because they fail to meet supermarket standards for appearance.

Farmers say they need some compensation, else it’s not worth the time, effort and expense to harvest the vegetables and truck them to food banks.