Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (2017-18)

The 2017-2018 Expenditure Estimates set out details of the operating and capital spending requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2017.

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Summary

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' purpose is to foster the economic growth of rural Ontario and the agri-food sector, along with providing assurance and oversight of the agri-food system while promoting stewardship of Ontario’s productive capacity to produce food. In doing so the Ministry supports economic growth in rural and urban communities that supports good jobs, attracts investment, and contributes to Ontario’s economic success.

Ministry program summary

Vote	Program	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
101	Ministry Administration Program	$22,902,300	$22,902,300	-	$23,529,444
107	Better Public Health and Environment	$91,995,000	$90,770,000	$1,225,000	$77,527,453
108	Strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural Communities	$461,757,100	$481,253,300	($19,496,200)	$486,129,696
109	Policy Development	$15,944,200	$15,944,200	-	$16,083,993
	Total operating expense to be voted	$592,598,600	$610,869,800	($18,271,200)	$603,270,586
	Statutory appropriations	$1,081,014	$2,096,014	($1,015,000)	$250,562
	Ministry total operating expense	$593,679,614	$612,965,814	($19,286,200)	$603,521,148
	Consolidation adjustment - Agricorp	$144,562,400	$141,983,200	$2,579,200	$115,049,377
	Consolidation adjustment - Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)	$5,838,300	$13,063,500	($7,225,200)	$16,495,428
	Consolidation adjustment - Ontario Racing Commission	-	-	-	$8,142,000
	Operating expense Adjustment – Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account Reclassification	$4,400,000	-	$4,400,000	-
	Total including consolidation & other adjustments	$748,480,314	$768,012,514	($19,532,200)	$743,207,953
	Operating assets
101	Ministry Administration Program	-	$300,000	($300,000)	-
107	Better Public Health and Environment	$12,000,000	$12,300,000	($300,000)	$3,453,500
108	Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-Product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities	-	$305,000	($305,000)	-
	Total operating assets to be voted	$12,000,000	$12,905,000	($905,000)	$3,453,500
	Ministry total operating assets	$12,000,000	$12,905,000	($905,000)	$3,453,500
	Capital expense
108	Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-Product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities	$158,075,000	$158,782,600	($707,600)	$196,799,118
	Total capital expense to be voted	$158,075,000	$158,782,600	($707,600)	$196,799,118
	Ministry total capital expense	$158,075,000	$158,782,600	($707,600)	$196,799,118
	Consolidation adjustment - Agricorp	$659,800	$888,500	($228,700)	$884,832
	Consolidation adjustment - Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)	($1,042,800)	($11,765,300)	$10,722,500	($11,548,305)
	Consolidation adjustment - Ontario Racing Commission	-	-	-	$72,000
	Capital expense adjustment – Trillium Trust Reclassification	$120,325,000	-	$120,325,000	-
	Total including consolidation & other adjustments	$278,017,000	$147,905,800	$130,111,200	$186,207,645
	Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets)	$1,026,497,314	$915,918,314	$110,579,000	$929,415,598

Reconciliation to Previously Published Data

Operating expense	2016-17 Estimates	2015-16 Actual
Total operating expense previously published ^{footnote 1[1]}	$612,965,814	$699,913,029
Government reorganization
Transfer of functions to other Ministries	-	($96,391,881)
Restated Total operating expense	$612,965,814	$603,521,148

Ministry Administration Program - vote 101

The Administration Program provides strategic management leadership and advice, legal counsel, communications, and administrative services in support of Ministry and government priorities.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Ministry Administration	$22,902,300	$22,902,300	-	$23,529,444
	Total operating expense to be voted	$22,902,300	$22,902,300	-	$23,529,444
S	Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act	$47,841	$47,841	-	$49,301
S	Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act	$16,173	$16,173	-	$16,667
	Total statutory appropriations	$64,014	$64,014	-	$65,968
	Total operating expense	$22,966,314	$22,966,314	-	$23,595,412
	Operating assets
-	Ministry Administration	-	$300,000	($300,000)	-
	Total operating assets to be voted	-	$300,000	($300,000)	-
	Total operating assets	-	$300,000	($300,000)	-

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount	Amount
	Operating expense
101-1	Ministry Administration
	Salaries and wages		$12,665,300
	Employee benefits		$2,376,800
	Transportation and communication		$640,000
	Services		$6,467,700
	Supplies and equipment		$752,500
	Total operating expense to be voted		$22,902,300
	Sub-items:
	Main office
	Salaries and wages	$2,271,500
	Employee benefits	$346,500
	Transportation and communication	$183,000
	Services	$239,200
	Supplies and equipment	$48,000	$3,088,200
	Business services
	Salaries and wages	$2,006,800
	Employee benefits	$216,300
	Transportation and communication	$247,900
	Services	$1,606,800
	Supplies and equipment	$527,200	$4,605,000
	Business planning and financial services
	Salaries and wages	$2,908,000
	Employee benefits	$442,000
	Transportation and communication	$49,800
	Services	$318,100
	Supplies and equipment	$28,000	$3,745,900
	Human resources
	Salaries and wages	$2,150,000
	Employee benefits	$841,000
	Transportation and communication	$27,500
	Services	$161,600
	Supplies and equipment	$34,800	$3,214,900
	Communications services
	Salaries and wages	$3,329,000
	Employee benefits	$531,000
	Transportation and communication	$105,000
	Services	$970,800
	Supplies and equipment	$89,000	$5,024,800
	Legal services
	Transportation and communication	$22,500
	Services	$2,681,300
	Supplies and equipment	$25,000	$2,728,800
	Audit services
	Transportation and communication	$4,300
	Services	$489,900
	Supplies and equipment	$500	$494,700
	Total operating expense to be voted		$22,902,300
	Statutory appropriations
Statutory	Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act		$47,841
Statutory	Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act		$16,173
	Total operating expense for Ministry Administration Program		$22,966,314

Better Public Health and Environment - vote 107

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs uses a full suite of tools to manage risks and encourage industry adoption of best management practices including: legislative and regulatory functions relating to food safety, animal health, and nutrient management; and non-regulatory programs in food safety, traceability, animal health and welfare, and the environment and climate change.

Note: recoveries under Operating expense for Better Public Health and Environment include recoveries of $4,400,000 from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account are based on forecasts of anticipated revenues and contingent upon a sufficient balance standing to the credit of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Better Public Health and Environment	$91,995,000	$90,770,000	$1,225,000	$77,527,453
	Total operating expense to be voted	$91,995,000	$90,770,000	$1,225,000	$77,527,453
S	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act	$10,000	$10,000	-	$184
	Total statutory appropriations	$10,000	$10,000	-	$184
	Total operating expense	$92,005,000	$90,780,000	$1,225,000	$77,527,637
	Operating assets
2	Better Public Health and Environment	$12,000,000	$12,300,000	($300,000)	$3,453,500
	Total operating assets to be voted	$12,000,000	$12,300,000	($300,000)	$3,453,500
	Total operating assets	$12,000,000	$12,300,000	($300,000)	$3,453,500

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount	Amount
	Operating expense
107-1	Better Public Health and Environment
	Salaries and wages		$32,261,800
	Employee benefits		$4,626,900
	Transportation and communication		$2,522,300
	Services		$15,398,800
	Supplies and equipment		$851,200
	Transfer payments
	Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program	$9,667,000
	Agri-environmental standards research	$100,000
	Animal Health Compensation Program	$1,000
	Climate change Action Plan – Better Public Health and Environment	$4,400,000
	Environment partnerships	$4,420,000
	Food safety and traceability partnerships	$1,000
	Growing forward - federal - better public health and environment	$21,000,000
	Lake Simcoe Agri-environmental partnerships	$920,000
	Other assistance for public health	$1,165,000	$41,674,000
	Subtotal		$97,335,000
	Less: recoveries		$5,340,000
	Total operating expense to be voted		$91,995,000
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act		$10,000
	Total operating expense for Better Public Health and Environment		$92,005,000
	Operating assets
107-2	Better Public Health and Environment
	Loans and Investments
	Tile drainage debentures, the Tile Drainage Act	$11,800,000
	Tile drainage loans in unorganized territories	$200,000	$12,000,000
	Total operating assets to be voted		$12,000,000
	Total operating assets for better public health and environment		$12,000,000

Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-Product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities - vote 108

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs supports the province’s rural communities and agriculture, food, bio-product and horse racing sectors by: investing in agri-food and bio-product research; promoting the adoption of best management practices and new technologies; delivering assistance programs, including farm income stabilization; supporting investment attraction and retention for the food processing sector; and promoting Ontario agri-food and agri-product sales in domestic and export markets. The Ministry is committed to building strong and vibrant rural communities with diversified economies.

Note: recoveries under Capital expense for Rural Affairs Capital include recoveries of $120,325,000 from the Trillium Trust, which are contingent upon a sufficient balance standing to the credit of the Trillium Trust.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Economic development	$136,939,400	$168,164,100	($31,224,700)	$172,753,341
3	Research	$86,027,300	$81,875,300	$4,152,000	$89,495,206
4	Business risk management transfers	$238,790,400	$231,213,900	$7,576,500	$223,881,149
	Total operating expense to be voted	$461,757,100	$481,253,300	($19,496,200)	$486,129,696
S	Payments: re: guaranteed bank loans, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
S	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act	$5,000	$5,000	-	$85,436
S	Payments: re: guaranteed bank loans, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
S	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000,000	$2,015,000	($1,015,000)	$98,974
	Total statutory appropriations	$1,007,000	$2,022,000	($1,015,000)	$184,410
	Total operating expense	$462,764,100	$483,275,300	($20,511,200)	$486,314,106
	Operating assets
-	Economic development	-	$300,000	($300,000)	-
-	Business risk management transfers	-	$5,000	($5,000)	-
	Total operating assets to be voted	-	$305,000	($305,000)	-
	Total operating assets	-	$305,000	($305,000)	-
	Capital expense
7	Agriculture and rural affairs capital	$158,075,000	$158,782,600	($707,600)	$196,799,118
	Total capital expense to be voted	$158,075,000	$158,782,600	($707,600)	$196,799,118
	Total capital expense	$158,075,000	$158,782,600	($707,600)	$196,799,118

Standard account by item and sub-items

-2

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount	Amount
	Operating expense
108-1	Economic development
	Salaries and wages		$23,041,700
	Employee benefits		$3,353,800
	Transportation and communication		$1,785,200
	Services		$18,358,900
	Supplies and equipment		$485,100
	Transfer payments
	Agriculture development	$4,118,500
	Food industry	$39,000,000
	Growing forward - federal - economic development	$18,000,000
	Horse Racing Industry Development Program	$6,303,200
	Ontario wine fund	$15,000,000
	Other assistance rural	$654,000
	Rural Economic Development Program	$7,410,000
	Small Cidery and Small Distillery Support Program	$1,854,000	$92,339,700
	Subtotal		$139,364,400
	Less: recoveries		$2,425,000
	Total operating expense to be voted		$136,939,400
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Payments: re: guaranteed bank loans, the Financial Administration Act		$1,000
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act		$5,000
108-3	Research
	Salaries and wages		$2,218,900
	Employee benefits		$297,800
	Transportation and communication		$176,700
	Services		$567,400
	Supplies and equipment		$90,000
	Transfer payments
	Competitive research	$1,000
	Food safety research	$1,000
	Grants in lieu of taxes	$750,000
	Growing forward - federal - research	$6,000,000
	Strategic partnerships	$3,944,500
	University of Guelph	$71,980,000	$82,676,500
	Total operating expense to be voted		$86,027,300
108-4	Business risk management transfers
	Transfer payments
	Agricorp	$14,228,000
	AgriInsurance	$34,000,000
	AgriInvest	$23,000,000
	AgriRecovery	$1,000
	AgriRisk Federal	$1,000
	AgriRisk Provincial	$1,000
	AgriStability	$35,469,500
	Farmers’ risk management premium fund	$30,000,000
	Ontario Risk Management Program	$100,000,000
	Other assistance for risk management	$30,900
	Provision for loan guarantees - Commodity Loan Guarantee Program	$1,000
	Wildlife damage compensation - federal	$1,058,000
	Wildlife damage compensation - provincial	$1,000,000	$238,790,400
	Total operating expense to be voted		$238,790,400
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Payments: re: guaranteed bank loans, the Financial Administration Act		$1,000
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act		$1,000,000
	Total operating expense for strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural sommunities		$462,764,100
	Capital expense
108-7	Agriculture and rural affairs capital
	Transfer payments
	Agri-food and animal health laboratory infrastructure	$500,000
	Green infrastructure fund	$1,550,000
	Municipal infrastructure	$196,001,000
	New Building Canada fund - federal contribution	$31,200,000
	New Building Canada fund - provincial contribution	$44,650,000
	Research and education base building investments	$3,000,000
	Research and education infrastructure renewal	$1,500,000	$278,401,000
	Less: recoveries		$120,326,000
	Total capital expense to be voted		$158,075,000
	Total capital expense for strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural communities		$158,075,000

Policy Development - vote 109

The Policy Division is responsible for leading and coordinating the development of innovative, comprehensive and evidence-based advice, analysis, and recommendations in support of Ministry and government priorities, including Federal-Provincial and Territorial policy.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Policy Development	$15,944,200	$15,944,200	-	$16,083,993
	Total operating expense to be voted	$15,944,200	$15,944,200	-	$16,083,993
	Total operating expense	$15,944,200	$15,944,200	-	$16,083,993

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount
	Operating expense
109-1	Policy Development
	Salaries and wages	$10,627,300
	Employee benefits	$1,517,700
	Transportation and communication	$554,400
	Services	$3,094,500
	Supplies and equipment	$150,300
	Total operating expense to be voted	$15,944,200
	Total operating expense for policy development	$15,944,200

Updated: January 15, 2026

Published: May 18, 2017

Footnotes

footnote[1] Back to paragraph Total operating expense includes statutory appropriations, special warrants and total operating expense to be voted.