Dave Stevens

L’Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens applied to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal to continue receiving special funding under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993.

The Tribunal reviewed the written submissions and supporting affidavit, noting no objections were received.

Finding that the applicant fulfilled the statutory criteria, the Tribunal granted the application and ordered special funding to continue for a five-year period expiring on September 1, 2030.

The appellants, licensed milk producers, appealed a decision of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) denying their requests for relief following an altercation with a milk transport driver.

The DFO brought a motion to dismiss the appeal.

The Tribunal found it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appellants' harassment complaint against the driver and transport company, as well as their claim for monetary compensation for dumped milk.

However, the Tribunal declined to dismiss the appellants' requests to permanently remove the driver from their route and to replace the transport company, finding an insufficient evidentiary record to determine if those issues were moot or trivial.

The motion was granted in part, with two issues proceeding to a full hearing.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture applied for the renewal of its accreditation under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993.

The Tribunal had previously granted provisional accreditation, requiring the applicant to provide proof of compliance regarding the public availability of its audited financial statements and an amended statement including the total number of supporters.

The applicant provided an affidavit and restated financial statements satisfying these requirements.

The Tribunal found the applicant in full compliance and granted the renewal of its accreditation for a five-year period.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture applied for the renewal of its accreditation as a farm organization under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993.

The Tribunal held a hearing to determine whether the organization met the prescribed criteria set out in Ontario Regulation 783/20.

The Tribunal found that the organization largely satisfied the criteria but required further evidence regarding the public availability of its audited financial statements and the inclusion of supporter numbers in those statements.

The Tribunal granted a provisional accreditation for 60 days to allow the organization to provide the required evidence.

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario applied to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal for the renewal of its accreditation as a farm organization under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993.

The Tribunal reviewed the evidence provided by the applicant against the prescribed criteria set out in Ontario Regulation 783/20.

Finding that the applicant met all the necessary requirements, including those related to membership, educational activities, policy advice, and financial reporting, the Tribunal granted the application and ordered the renewal of the accreditation for a five-year period.

The National Farmers Union - Ontario (NFU-O) applied to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal for the renewal of its accreditation as a farm organization under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993.

The Tribunal reviewed the evidence and found that the NFU-O met all the prescribed criteria set out in Ontario Regulation 783/20, including requirements related to incorporation, representation, education, government consultation, supporter numbers, membership fees, and financial reporting.

The Tribunal ordered the renewal of the NFU-O's accreditation for a five-year period.

The applicant purchased a farm implement from the respondent and later cancelled the order.

The respondent agreed to refund the $28,890 purchase price but failed to do so.

The applicant filed a complaint under the Farm Implements Act.

The Tribunal dismissed the complaint on its own motion under Rule 33.01, finding that the dispute was a contractual matter outside its jurisdiction.

The Tribunal noted that while the respondent was unregistered, enforcement of registration requirements falls to the Director and the Provincial Offences Court, not the Tribunal.

The applicants filed a complaint against the respondent seeking $7,000 in compensation for the cost and delay of repairs to a tractor that was no longer under warranty.

The Tribunal issued a Notice of Possible Dismissal Without a Hearing, questioning its jurisdiction to hear the matter under the Farm Implements Act.

After receiving no submissions from the parties, the Tribunal determined that the Act does not provide a remedy for disputes based solely on a contract of repair for an out-of-warranty farm implement.

The complaint was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 33.01 of the Tribunal's Rules of Procedure.

The appellant appealed the assessments for the Geiger Drain under section 54 of the Drainage Act.

The appellant also brought a motion for an extension of time to file an appeal under section 48, which the Tribunal denied.

On the merits of the section 54 appeal, the Tribunal found that the majority of the engineer's assessments were fair and reasonable.

However, the Tribunal reduced the benefit assessment for Lot 5 regarding an engineered berm, finding no significant soil erosion to justify the specific benefit, and reduced the assessment for Branch C, finding the allowances should not have factored into the assessment calculations.

The appeal was allowed in part.

The Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Service Board applied under section 76(1) of the Drainage Act for permission to procure an engineer's report to vary the 1990 Schedule of Assessment.

The Board cited changes in conditions due to the development and hardening of agricultural land.

No assessed persons objected to the application.

The Tribunal granted the requested permission.