Food Banks Canada welcomes Ontario's new tax credit for farmers who donate to food banks

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Yesterday, Bill 36 - The Local Food Act, 2013, received unanimous support at third reading in Ontario's legislature.  The Local Food Act enshrines into law a new tax credit for farmers who donate food to local food banks.

The bill creates a non-refundable tax credit worth 25% of the fair market value of agricultural product donated by farmers to community food programs, including food banks.

Food Banks Canada has encouraged federal and provincial governments to enact such a policy and is elated to see the Ontario government become the first to implement an initiative that will help generous farmers in Ontario while increasing the amount of fresh, nutritious food available to the close to 400,000 Ontarians who are helped by food banks each month.

"We are delighted to see that Ontario has become the first province in Canada to provide a tax credit for farmers who donate to food banks," said Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director of Food Banks Canada. "We congratulate the Ontario Association of Food Banks, Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey, and Premier Kathleen Wynne for their incredible work on the tax credit. We will continue to work with our Member provincial associations and provincial governments to encourage others throughout the country to follow Ontario's lead," added Schmidt.

"The new tax credit is a win-win," said Bill Laidlaw, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks. "It will help Ontario farmers who donate generously to their local food banks, and will increase the amount of fresh, nutritious and healthy food available to Ontarians who need help to make ends meet."

About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada supports a unique network of food-related organizations in every province and territory, which assists more than 800,000 Canadians each month. Together our network shares over 200 million pounds of essential, safe, quality food annually, provides social programs that help to foster self-sufficiency, and advocates for policy change that will help create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca for more information.

Relieving hunger today. Preventing hunger tomorrow.

SOURCE: Food Banks Canada

Media contact: Marzena Gersho, Food Banks Canada, 647-242-5919 (mobile) or [phone], ext. 228 (office), [email protected] .