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Post by dirtsunrain on Mar 21, 2010 7:01:52 GMT -5
Theres an idea floating around here that our provincial gov't is looking at creating a Tax Credit for people who purchase Local Ontario Food.
Wouldnt that be great news for farmers if they did!
The grocery stores would be asked/forced to identify Ontario grown produce and meats and it would be shown on the receipt. Consumers could then apply for a tax credit at years end.
I can see where it would get fiddly, saving receipts and all, but the idea is huge. I hope it happens...
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Post by Penny on Mar 21, 2010 7:05:52 GMT -5
I love the idea of somthing like that, it supports our farmers too.
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Post by seedywen on Mar 22, 2010 17:07:21 GMT -5
Please keep us posted if this tax credit idea comes to pass. Monkey see. Monkey do  |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 22, 2010 18:31:13 GMT -5
Local Food Tax Credit would be a good idea for Grocery Stores.
But what about Farmgate sales and Farmers Markets? Do you normally get a receipt when you purchase a squash or an eggplant at market? I know I do not. What about the added expense incurred to the farmer to set up some kind of receipt system including tax for certain items?
And do you know how busy it can be at some stalls in the summer? Are all of those customers going to wait around with their .50cents or $1 purchases while 10 people ahead of them ask for receipts?
Not many I imagine...
I'm not convinced that this is in favour of the small farmer in Ontario. I think this is again, a government papertrail that leads straight to the Income Tax office...
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Post by sandbar on Mar 22, 2010 21:15:41 GMT -5
So, I'm guessing Canadians pay a tax on food?
I agree with Blue's assessment. It sounds to me like another way for the government to track what we're buying and eventually squeeze some more (tax) revenue out of us. Especially when they find out that some farmer's market farmers might not be reporting their sales ... YIKES!!
Food is tax-exempt in the US.
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Post by grunt on Mar 23, 2010 1:53:22 GMT -5
Basic food in Canada is tax exempt, but their methods of determining what is basic are beyond my understanding.
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Post by canadamike on Mar 23, 2010 2:24:10 GMT -5
If it is chips, nachos or soda or else, it is not exempt. True food is. The system actually works pretty well. I suppose that is why they talk about a tax credit. For a tax credit, you have to prove purchase...in this case, let's say frankly it is a pretty stupid idea, so unpractical it looks like trying to use a band aid to glue 2 waves together in the Atlantic ocean...
Great spirit...no use...like trying to masturbate a foetus to teach him/her about sex,a true modern hyper urban concept...almost poetry in a weird fucked up way...so disconected from true life...
I love poetry, when it is written by, let's say, Leonard Cohen...but alas talent is rare....certainly not to be found within these urban tax credit dreamers...
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Post by steveont on Mar 23, 2010 5:59:38 GMT -5
it does show promise! still, its kinda like the smoke and mirrors that cfo is pulling, legal for me too now sell chicken (300)that has been inspected at a plant at my farm, but if i take it 2 miles down the road to the farmers market, big fine! have always had to work with govt but never trust them!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 23, 2010 8:31:54 GMT -5
farmer's market farmers might not be reporting their sales ... YIKES!! Food is tax-exempt in the US. SB, We pay tax on luxury items like Chocolate bars.. But that's not really the point I was trying to make. I don't think there is any danger of the small farmer NOT reporting sales from a Farmers Market. I'm not sure that they make enough not to report income. Here in Ontario, we (sorry, I forgot, I sold the farm) have to clear $7,000 of farm income each year, in order to be able to reap the benefits of tax rightoffs. That's not as easy as it sounds. Instead, I'm concerned that they would be forced to purchase a Laptop or some other expensive portable device to give receipts for all the nickel and dime stuff they sell. How long will it take to repay that expense? How many of those Laptops will be stolen while they tend to a customer? It's an open air stall situation, not a store where the register is attached to a counter. I'm ALL for eating Local Food, but not at the expense of seeing this trend put more small producers out of business. |
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Post by plantsnobin on Mar 23, 2010 10:20:31 GMT -5
While it sounds like a nice idea in theory, we know how things go when govt gets in on it. Look what happened to 'organic'. Now the people who truly are growing food organically, can't say that unless they pay some agency big bucks to certify. Not worth it for small farmers, the ones we are trying to encourage and support. No problem though for larger corps who moved in on the organic market. Then they lobby for changes in the standard of just what is organic. Just as they would move in on this, I am sure. Everything boils down to Unintended Consequences.
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Post by ozarklady on Mar 23, 2010 11:18:28 GMT -5
I would see this as simply: More government involvement in my personal life. As a consumer or as a farmer's market person, I would object to it.
I say competition is the best answer. Locally grown should be cheaper than food that is trucked all over. And the savings should be passed on to the customer.
I do know that commercial food vendors have contracts to purchase, and they are not free to buy locally. Which makes sense, can you guarantee to have the same amount available next year? And we don't want to go to the grocers and them be out of this or that.
You can't have it both ways! And I think this is where fruit stands, and Farmer's Markets come into the picture, they can be out of something, and they can sell what is available. We don't expect them to always have everything. Let the prices, competition etc. set the pace, and keep the government out of it. I keep enough receipts and tax time is bad enough now!
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Post by dirtsunrain on Mar 24, 2010 17:00:48 GMT -5
The idea was created and pitched to the gov't by the Farmers of the Grey County Federation of Ag.
It is meant to serve the farmers who farm for their living, not the market growers who dont meet the threshold of $7,000 a year.
If it raises awareness of Local food and helps create a tide of consumer demand for homegrown food, it will help the small producers. I've only done a quick read thru of the report but there is mention of adapting it for small CSA producers.
Where I live, there is only 130 acres of land dedicated to food production. We need 600 acres to grow enough food to feed the entire Island. Part of the focus of my new business is to create an incentive for the back yard growers. Instead of planting 10 tomatoes, plant 20 and I'll simplify the means of selling the excess. I live on 400 acres, the neighbours have 600 acres, the guy across the road has 900 acres. We have a huge amount of unused land sitting in pasture. I'm willing to look at any means to create local food awareness and production.
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Mar 24, 2010 20:34:36 GMT -5
Well Mike, its nice to know that my northern cousins government is as jacked up as ours, well almost anyway. The other night on CSPAN I belive that was the channel, anyway Nancy Peloski said, we need to pass this Bill so we can know whats in it. How fucked up is that. Telling Congress to pass a bill that no one has had time to read. Morons............
- Baby Daddy
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