An answer for roadside market signage

As we celebrate the 10th annual Ontario Agriculture Week, and in a year when “local food”, the “100-mile diet” has taken on greater significance I am pleased to report a victory of sorts for local farmers at the Ontario Legislature last week.

A decade after former Perth PC MPP Bert Johnson created Ontario Agriculture Week through a Private Member’s Bill, Opposition Agriculture Critic Ernie Hardeman and I have succeeded in taking the first legislative step toward restoring  farmers rights to post highway signage.

Bill 98, An Act to promote the sale of Ontario grown agricultural food products was introduced by Mr. Hardeman in the wake of the ongoing struggles of local farmers in displaying signs to promote their local Ontario grown food. Specifically, the ongoing work my office has done to deal with local Norfolk asparagus grower Charles Emre’s ongoing signage travails was the impetus to spark this private members bill.

Those familiar with Mr. Emre’s sign struggles would know that current laws prohibit signage within 400 metres of a provincial highway unless a ministerial permit has been granted.  Given the government’s “buy Ontario” campaign, and our shared interest into helping farmers market local product, I feel it is essential that we work to untie the hands of farmers to promote their homegrown produce to the people of Ontario.

As I reported in the Legislature, “It was a year ago last summer that Mr. Emre’s sign turned up missing. He stormed into our office. He was furious. Thanks to my staff, we did a search and we discovered it in the MTO yard in Brantford—it had been confiscated by workers—and made arrangements for it to be returned.

“This year, after arranging to post the sign again on a private field beyond the ministry’s road allowance, Mr. Emre received what amounts to a ‘cease and desist or else’ letter from the MTO.”

As those who have read the local reports are aware, Mr.  Emre’s sales dropped 50% from the lack of signage.

Clearly Mr. Emre’s example underlines the need for legislation to cut through the red tape binding our area farmers. That said, it is important to ensure the exemptions for farmers do not lead to an explosion of roadside eyesores advertising anything under the sun.

As such, Bill 98 has the following provisions within it:

-the exempted signage would be able to provide directions to the farm where food products grown or produced in Ontario are sold, excluding tobacco.

-the owner of the exempted sign must be the same person who is the owner (or renter) of the location from which the food products are being sold -the exempted sign can only be on private land that is zoned agricultural; and -the exempted sign may only be displayed during the time the product is available for sale

One thing I stress, this bill – which received unanimous support from all parties – does not permit roadside tobacco signs. Now that government members have voiced their support, it gives us yet another reason to demand the McGuinty government begin removing smoke shack signs on Highway 6 and other provincial and municipal roads across the province.

The tobacco issue aside, I was heartened to see the unanimous all-party support given this bill as one more reason to celebrate agriculture week in Ontario.

See you at the fair.