Agriculture committee  Although it doesn't really affect my farm, I think that creating a rock solid and unambiguous farmers' privilege clause in the bill would satisfy a lot of concerns I've heard from people on the bill. Again, this is an omnibus bill. It's changing a lot of legislation. You could make a start by suggesting that the federal government develop a buy local policy for federal institutions.

Agriculture committee  Yes, thanks. Absolutely. I think when we look at the role that farms and farmers play in our society, urban Canadians have never been more interested in food, in connecting with the people who produce their food. We're seeing small towns dying all over rural Canada. We're losing schools and hockey leagues because fewer and fewer people are in the business of farming.

Agriculture committee  Sure, thank you very much. I think that at past hearings you've heard from representatives of the organic industry, and in the next hour you will as well. I think that they'll be able to speak to that. My main point is that I see Bill C-18 as a missed opportunity. It's focusing on issues like plant breeders' rights and protecting intellectual property, which are going to have virtually no impact on my operation and operations like mine that are small scale and geared to the local market.

Agriculture committee  Chair, and all honourable members, thank you very much for inviting me to speak today. My name is Brent Preston. My wife Gillian and I run the New Farm, a certified organic family farm near the village of Creemore, about an hour and a half northwest of Toronto. We grow vegetables for the restaurant and specialty retail market in southern Ontario.