Ontario and Canada Mark Agriculture Day with Landmark Agreement
Ontario has signed a new bilateral agreement with the federal government that will support strategic, long-term investments that will spur innovation, economic growth and create jobs in Ontario’s agri-food sector.
Jeff Leal, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Lloyd Longfield, MP for Guelph, on behalf of Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, were in Guelph today to make the announcement.
The new Canadian Agricultural Partnership will set a solid foundation for the future of Ontario’s agri-food sector by supporting specialized research and projects that foster innovation and growth while preparing the sector for the second half of the 21st century. The agreement also includes funding to help farmers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farm, such as unpredictable weather or market volatility.
These investments help achieve the federal government’s goal to create good middle class jobs by helping food processors develop products that reflect changing market tastes and seize new market opportunities.
Supporting Ontario’s agri-food sector is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. This plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
“I am pleased this partnership will continue to ensure that Ontario’s agri-food sector has the support it needs to grow, innovate and step up to the challenge of helping feed a growing population. This partnership will equip our sector with the tools and resources it needs to adapt to changes in the marketplace while seizing new opportunities and responding quickly to any challenges. I look forward to continuing to work with industry and our federal counterparts and look forward to a seamless transition in programming.”
“The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will help put Canada and Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector on track to continue to innovate, grow and prosper. It will support our farmers and food processors in meeting the world’s growing demand for their high-quality products, while creating well-paying middle class jobs and delivering prosperity here in Ontario and to communities across the Canada.”
Lawrence MacAulay
