Farm groups are joining together to voice their concerns about the recent ruling on a freedom-of-information request made to the Ontario government in regards to a list of names of all Farm Business Registrants.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario and the National Farmers Union-Ontario were informed Tuesday that the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will release the list of names.
But while the names will be released to the person who submitted the request, the Farm Business Registration numbers will not be released.
Even so, that's not sitting well with any of the three farm organizations.
OFA President Keith Currie states, "As an organization, we are disappointed in the decision of OMAFRA to disclose the farm business names of FBR registrants in Ontario. We are concerned about the safety and security of our farm businesses and the serious risk this poses to them."
Once the farm groups were made aware of the request when it was first made, they petitioned their members, urging them to contact the government.
In the end only 3% of farmers consulted by OMAFRA agreed tot he release of the information.
There is an appeal process and three groups, the OFA, CFFO, and NFU-Ontario, are expected to pursue that option.
