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.
