Veal Farmers Added as Ontario Levy Collector

Summary#

This is the Order Amending the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order (SOR/2020-152). It lets the veal industry group collect levies in Ontario and sets June 30, 2021 as the date when the levies stop applying. The order took effect when it was registered on June 30, 2020.

What it does#

• In Ontario, it adds the Veal Farmers of Ontario as a second collector alongside the Beef Farmers of Ontario for the levies set by the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order.
• It states that certain provisions of the levy order (specifically Section 4 and subsections 5(1) and 12(1)) will cease to have effect on June 30, 2021 — the explanatory note summarizes this as the date the levies cease.
• The order came into force on the day it was registered (that registration date was June 30, 2020).

Who's affected#

• Beef and veal producers in Ontario who pay levies for research, market development and promotion.
• The two levy collectors: the Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Veal Farmers of Ontario.
• Industry organizations and programs that receive levy funding for research and promotion.
• It is not fully detailed in the order text which exact levy amounts or specific programs are ended; the change refers to specific sections of the levy order.

Why it matters#

• Where producers send their levies can change which organization manages and spends that money. Adding the Veal Farmers of Ontario gives Ontario veal producers a dedicated collector.
• Setting June 30, 2021 as the end date for the levies means the current levy framework was scheduled to stop then, which could affect funding for research, marketing and promotion programs funded by those levies.
• If you are an Ontario cattle or veal producer, a levy payer, or a recipient of levy-funded programs, you may see changes in who collects fees and how programs are funded after the dates above.