The Ontario farm products marketing act

Abstract

"Ontario is fighting for its existence in the canning field. We want to work with the growers but they can't do without us. Most of the canners are trying to work with the growers but the farmers don't seem to realize that with the Farm Products Marketing Act of 1946 in Ontario, we are faced with stiff opposition from provinces which do not have a minimum buying price." What is this quotation all about? Let us see. The provincial regulation of the sale of farm products is a relatively new thing. The original legislation was passed in 1937, but it was not until 1942 that any vegetable crops were regulated. Tomatoes was the first crop for which minimum prices were set. The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Board has been in existence only during a period of war-time inflation and post-war prosperity and therefore its success is yet difficult to evaluate. We appear now to be entering a critical period of falling prices. The next few years will be a severe testing ground for natural products' regulation. This thesis is not designed to be a statistical survey of the products regulated under the Act. Nor does it cover the problems encountered in all of the crops regulated. The thesis is rather a general survey of marketing legislation in Ontario and its effects. A digression will be made, however, to include a chapter on British Columbia since this is the only other province with legislation of canning crops. The historical background of the Ontario Act brings us up-to-date, and a detailed sketch of its jurisdiction and administration is included. No survey of this sort is complete without discussing the economics involved.