When we think about government policy that affects our farms, our attention often goes first to Queen’s Park or Ottawa. But many of the decisions that have the most direct impact on our businesses are actually made much closer to home: by our local municipal councils.

Municipal councils make decisions about property taxes, land use, zoning, development charges, building permits, roads, drainage and local infrastructure. For fruit and vegetable growers, municipal decisions can also affect issues such as worker housing, farm business expansion and access to energy.

All of those things can influence what it costs to operate a farm, whether we can expand and invest in our businesses, and how easily we can get things done. Ontario’s municipal election is coming up on October 26, and it’s an important opportunity for growers to make sure agriculture is part of the conversation. I know fall is a busy time, but I encourage you to pay attention to this election. 

Find out who is running locally, attend an all-candidates meeting, talk to candidates at your door or at events and ask where they stand on issues that affect your business. And if they don’t know or aren’t familiar with fruit or vegetable production, take the opportunity to make a connection and give them some insight into our sector.

You don’t have to be an expert in municipal policy; just tell candidates about your business and ask practical questions about the issues you deal with every day. Worker housing is a good example. Many fruit and vegetable farms depend on seasonal agricultural workers, and growers are responsible for providing safe, quality housing. Municipal zoning, building requirements and permitting processes directly affect our ability to build, expand or improve that housing.

A housing survey by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) found that delays in building permit approvals are the biggest municipal challenge growers face with worker housing. Ask candidates what they would do to make those processes timelier and more predictable. 

The same goes for other farm infrastructure. A grower looking to build or expand a greenhouse, packing facility or other agricultural building can face development charges, permitting delays and zoning bylaws that don’t always reflect the realities of modern horticulture.

Land use is another issue where municipal decisions matter. Our communities are growing and changing, but as a society, we also need to value our farmland and what it means to our ability to feed ourselves. That means using a lens of food and economics when making decisions around the use of that land – and candidates should be able to explain how they will make sure agriculture has a voice when official plans and zoning bylaws are reviewed.

And don’t overlook infrastructure. Roads, bridges and traffic circles need to accommodate farm equipment safely. Drainage and water availability matter to farm operations. For greenhouse growers in particular, reliable access to natural gas and electricity can have a major impact on investment and expansion decisions. 

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has developed a municipal election kit with questions farmers can use when speaking with candidates, covering land use, taxation, infrastructure, energy, drainage and other local issues. OFVGA has supplemented that with questions specifically focused on fruit and vegetable production. 

They’re useful tools and I encourage you to check them out on the OFVGA website, but the most important thing is simply to get involved. 

Our sector includes more than 3,500 farm businesses growing more than 125 different crops. In 2025, Ontario fruit and vegetable farms generated $4.2 billion in farm cash receipts and directly employed more than 30,000 people. 

That makes horticulture an important part of the economy in communities across Ontario, and candidates need to understand what our businesses need to remain successful. So between now and October 26, ask questions. Tell candidates about your farm and the municipal issues that affect it. Find out where they stand. And most importantly, make sure you vote.

The decisions made around the municipal council table may be local, but their impact on our farms can be significant.