Friday, March 30, 2012

No decision yet on GFOs

There is still no decision from the tribunal on re-certifying four general farm organizations to continue receiving funding on the Farm Business Registration program run by the province through Agricorp.

The last time I talked with the chairman in February, he said the Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Tribunal was in the process of writing a decision and I would know when it's posted on the tribunal's website.

Either Kirk Walstedt is a slow writer or there is a deadlock among tribunal members.

The tribunal re-opened its public hearing on the National Farmers Union when several executives resigned and informed the tribunal about the power the head office in Saskatoon exercises over the Ontario local which, according to government rules, is supposed to be independent.

The others awaiting a tribunal decision are the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario and, through them, funding for an association for French-language farmers in Ontario.

So, Mr. Minister, do you put tribunal members through a performance appraisal process?