EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT OF PRIVACY TO OMAFRA

    An appeal has halted for now the release of Ontario Farm Business Registration numbers and there are no plans by three Ontario farm groups to launch a class action lawsuit against the provincial government over the issue, says Keith Currie, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
   The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stirred a wave of anger in the farm community when it disclosed it would release the names of FBR holders but not their numbers or other personal information in response to a request made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It followed passage of a law tightening trespass laws on Ontario farms.
   “As an organization, we are disappointed in the decision of OMAFRA,” Keith Currie said. “We are concerned about the safety and security of our farm businesses and the serious risk this poses to them.”

  
It's your information.  Protect it.
by Donald R. Good, P.Ag.
AgriNews Staff Writer:   

   The farm community has become concerned over the request by an unknown person who has made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for detailed information on farmers registered under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act (FBR). Should farmers be concerned? The obvious answer is, ‘yes.’