Defending the interests of your farm for over 50 years.
The NFU was formed in 1969 through a merger of the Saskatchewan Farmers Union, the Ontario Farmers Union, the Farmers Union of British Columbia, and the Farmers Union of Alberta. In addition to these provincial unions, farmers from the Maritime provinces who were not organized into farmers’ unions at the time also became part of the NFU structure.
Prior to ’69, these provincial unions each had worked autonomously in its respective province, but increasingly were finding themselves at a disadvantage in attempting to work with the federal government. In an effort to solve that problem, the unions created a coordinating body, the National Farmers Union Council, consisting of representatives of the executives of each provincial union and representatives from the Maritime provinces.
Over time, the officials and members from the provincial unions and the Maritimes realized that the major policy decisions affecting farmers were being made at the federal level. At a joint meeting of the executives of the provincial unions and others in Winnipeg in March 1968, the executive members passed a motion to strike a committee to develop a constitution for a direct membership national farm organization.
Across the province, and for more than 50 years, NFU members have been on the front lines, defending farmers’ interests and advocating for better solutions. The members of the NFU — farm families and their urban allies — have racked up a long and impressive list of victories, including: blocking the introduction of GM wheat, gaining recognition for the contribution of farm women, defending Canadians’ rights to save seeds, keeping GM dairy hormones out of Canadian milk, defending supply management and fighting for the CWB, winning changes to our tax systems, and stopping railway attempts to raise grain freight rates.
History of Region 3 (Ontario)
Region 3 members have always been some of the most engaged and active members of the NFU:
In 1969, NFU-O members in Leeds, Essex, and Kent counties (along with some other farmers) withheld property taxes, protesting education funding from farm land, ultimately leading to a 25%, and later a 50%, rebate on taxes.
In 2010, it was Ontario Local 316, that led the “Save Our Prison Farms” Campaign, spearheading national opposition to the closure of prison farms and calling for revitalizing the program and re-orienting it toward sustainable farming and food security for the prisons and for local communities. And, after nine years of NFU and allies’ campaigning, the Government of Canada committed federal budget dollars to reopening the Prison Farms in Kingston in 2018.
These are two examples of the many legislative victories NFU-O farmers fought and won for all farmers in their region; Ontario farm members have always carried out the NFU mission by advocating for provincial and national agricultural policies which will ensure dignity and security of income for farm families while enhancing the land for future generations.
Gaining Accreditation: A seat at the table.
In 2002, after years of work by Regional members and officials, NFU Region 3 (Ontario) gained accreditation under Ontario’s Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act and successfully defended accreditation against an appeal by the OFA. This meant that farmers required to obtain a Farm Business Registration (FBR) number from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), could choose to transfer their fees to membership with the National Farmers Union - Ontario.
The NFU-O is the accredited farm organization for you.
The NFU-O is the accredited farm organization for you.