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Prue pushes farm tax credit for food donations

For the second consecutive day in Question Period, NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue (Beaches-East York) called for the McGuinty government to implement a tax credit for farmers who donate surplus produce to Ontario’s food banks.

Yesterday, the Finance Minister was disinterested in Prue’s question. Today, Prue asked the Premier and received a much more positive response.

“This tax credit is a win-win idea. It is being done in three states to great success. Farmers win by receiving tax credits for surplus produce and food banks win by providing Ontarians in need with more healthy and fresh food“, said Prue.

The Association of Ontario Food Banks and Ontario Farmers have requested this tax credit as a way to assist food banks in procuring fresh foods for their clients.

“There are 140,000 children in our province who live in a home without enough food and there is an abundance of fresh, surplus local food from Ontario’s farms that is currently going to waste,” Prue said.

According to the Association of Ontario Food Banks, in the first three months of 2009, demand for food has increased by 20 per cent annually and the procurement of fresh food is very difficult in these tough times.

“Farmers and food banks have come together to create a sensible and very lost cost solution to their problem – they estimate that from every dollar the government gives in tax credits, seven dollars in fresh food will be given to needy families,” noted Prue. “We will continue to push the government towards implementation.”

An estimated surplus of more than 25-million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in Ontario that is currently ploughed back into the soil or sent out for disposal could provide nutritious meals for 350,000 people forced to turn to food banks each month.

ontariondp.com
October 22, 2009

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