A message from the minister

It is an honour to serve as the Ontario Minister of Rural Affairs. I very much appreciate local leadership throughout Ontario, and I’m deeply committed to ensuring our rural communities remain great places to live, work, raise a family, grow a business and visit — both now and in the future.

Our government has a vision for thriving rural communities. We’re determined to expand rural capacity to support strong communities, create and retain jobs, and support the economic growth of communities across the province.

I’m proud to introduce Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy. This Strategy is our plan to support rural Ontario and is based on our government’s belief that a strong and dynamic rural Ontario is essential for the overall success of the province’s economy.

To ensure rural communities are best positioned to take advantage of opportunities and address challenges, the Strategy focuses on three key areas: safe and strong rural communities, business development and attraction, and growing the rural workforce.

As I have traveled across Ontario, it has been suggested to me that previous governments had lost touch and ignored rural priorities. This resulted in shuttered businesses, a migration of youth to larger cities and crumbling infrastructure due to a lack of funds to make necessary repairs and renovations. I am motivated to make a difference and ensure rural communities have the capacity and proper support.

I am proud to call rural Ontario home and I am confident in saying the future of rural Ontario looks bright. By working together, we can continue to build strong economies and position rural Ontario as a destination of choice for individuals, families, and businesses. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with leaders and residents across the province to ensure the success of rural Ontario for generations.

Lisa Thompson
Minister of Rural Affairs

Why Ontario needs a rural strategy

Our government understands that rural Ontario is essential for the province’s economy and is a significant contributor to the vitality and resilience of our province.

Ontario cannot be at its best without thriving rural communities and small towns. Since 2018, several factors have been driving changes in rural Ontario, including a growing population, major investments in key sectors like manufacturing, and increased funding for significant infrastructure and housing projects.

Our government continues to pursue this progress because we will not leave rural Ontario behind. That is why Enabling Opportunity is our government’s plan to develop and grow local businesses, attract, and retain rural workers and build safe, strong, and vibrant rural communities. This is a whole-of-government strategy to realize the potential and successes of our small towns and rural communities.

Local leaders and community members are best positioned to identify local assets and leverage their competitive advantage. This Strategy is focused on working together with local community leaders, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, economic developers, and Indigenous communities. Everyone has a role to play in supporting economic opportunities and the resilience of rural communities across the province.

Rural Ontario’s key statistics

  • 96% of Ontario’s land area
  • Home to:
    • 2.5 million people
    • 257,000 businesses
    • 1.2 million jobs
  • Contributed $113.3 billion in gross domestic product in 2023

Source: 2021 Statistics Canada Census.

What we’ve heard

Over the past year, we’ve held extensive consultations across the province to better understand the issues impacting all of rural Ontario. Municipal leaders, economic development professionals, other key rural stakeholders and Indigenous partners were all consulted to provide input.

Consultations since January 2024:

  • 13 roundtables held across the province.
  • Virtual Rural Economic Development Summit with approximately 250 participants.
  • Received more than 240 survey responses.

This Strategy incorporates much of what we heard.

Support rural economic development and community capacity building

Ontario should look for opportunities to enhance funding supports for economic development activities in rural communities, enhance resources and knowledge-sharing and provide support for local planning as capacity in rural municipalities is strained.

Continue investing in housing and community infrastructure

Communities need help to continue investing in housing and housing-enabling infrastructure, including water systems, roads and bridges, and recreation facilities which are essential for economic growth.

Continue investments in broadband and cellular infrastructure

Ontario should continue investing in high-speed internet and cellular service and recognize that cellular service must be reliable in all parts of the province.

Help to strengthen protection from cyber threats and encourage responsible use of emerging technologies

Training, tools and resources are needed to build capacity regarding cyber security to minimize risks and encourage responsible adoption and use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Support rural tourism

Ontario should enhance the focus on rural tourism-related opportunities and provide assistance for the development of marketing materials and branding that include shoulder season activities and events, as well as agri-tourism and culinary tourism initiatives. Investing in tourism infrastructure, like museums, will help encourage tourists to visit rural Ontario.

Grow small business and attract new investments

Help support the growth of small- to medium- sized businesses and attract new investments to rural communities.

Increase awareness of rural employment opportunities and provide skills training and workforce development initiatives

Work with local colleges and universities to develop training and upskilling programs targeted to employment for local industries.

Vision: Thriving rural communities

You’ve told us that by working together, we can continue to build strong rural economies and position rural Ontario as a destination of choice for individuals, families, and businesses.

This Strategy aims to improve local economic development capacity and champion local leadership, support rehabilitation of municipal and community infrastructure, optimize rural connectivity, support communities in developing plans to house and transport workers and attract and retain a skilled workforce. 

To support this vision and goals for thriving rural communities, this Strategy is focused on three key pillars:

  • Safe and strong rural communities — supporting foundational elements so rural communities are places where people want to live, work and play.
  • Business development and attraction — developing, growing and attracting business.
  • Growing the rural workforce — attracting, retaining and growing the workforce.

Pillar one: Safe and strong rural communities

It’s important to have strong economic foundational pieces in place for rural communities to succeed. For example, well-maintained infrastructure is a key building block for economic prosperity, public safety and growth. It’s also fundamental to provide access to high-speed internet and cellular service for businesses and people.

Additionally, preserving and upgrading community assets including cultural and recreation infrastructure are important to maintain a high quality of life, as is having strong leadership to plan and guide economic growth. Supporting these foundational elements is important in creating communities where people want to live, work and play. Strong communities are vital for the economic success of rural Ontario and the entire province.

Goals

By 2035, this vision will help Ontario as it strives to:

  • grow the rural population
  • improve economic development capacity in rural communities across the province
  • increase rural housing options
  • help to rehabilitate rural community infrastructure
  • optimize and expand broadband and cellular connectivity for communities in rural and Northern Ontario

New initiatives to support safe and strong communities

Developing an internet-based Rural Ontario Portal where rural communities can easily find and access the provincial programs and resources they need to be successful.

Ontario is also supporting communities, residents and businesses by:

  • Strengthening rural Ontario by bringing together partners to share information, discuss new ideas and showcase progress on increasing rural prosperity by hosting an annual Rural Summit.
  • Increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) by $100 million over two years, bringing the total funding envelope to $600 million by 2026. For 2025, the OMPF will include an immediate increase of $50 million targeted to small, northern and rural municipalities and those with a limited property tax base.

Ongoing initiatives to support safe and strong communities

Capacity building and leadership resources

Providing tools and resources to increase community knowledge, expertise and leadership in economic development and community efforts which includes:

Community infrastructure

Supporting the development and rehabilitation of community and cultural assets through:

Housing, transit and other core infrastructure

Supporting the development, repair and expansion of roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, energy systems, infrastructure to enable the construction of housing, community transit projects, and access to high-speed internet and cellular services through:

Public safety

Bolstering capacity to minimize risk and protect against cyber and public safety threats through:

Pillar two: Business development and attraction

Rural Ontario is home to innovation, where small businesses and entrepreneurs serve the needs of their community, and the needs of others, provincially, nationally and globally. These communities are home to food production, natural resources, and energy generation, but also home to manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, professional services and tourism-based businesses.

Through recent announcements, rural Ontario is experiencing unprecedented investment growth, particularly in advanced manufacturing. Major companies are choosing smaller communities for significant operations, recognizing the strategic advantages of the skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, and integrated supply chains. From mineral extraction in the North to advanced manufacturing and value-add in Southwestern Ontario, rural communities are positioning themselves as a leader in next-generation industrial development.

These investments highlight the fact that the potential for jobs and growth are considerable. But along with this vast array of opportunities, comes complex challenges that many small communities haven’t faced and need help to address.

Goals

By 2035, this vision will help Ontario as it strives to:

  • attract investment, business, customers and families to rural downtowns
  • increase the number of rural businesses
  • advance economic opportunities for Indigenous communities
  • increase rural business succession planning
  • grow rural GDP

New initiatives to support business development and attraction

Modernizing and enhancing the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program — now called the Rural Ontario Development Program (RODP) — to support an increased number of community projects that help to assist rural businesses and entrepreneurs address barriers to business development and growth. The RODP builds upon and improves the successful RED program based on feedback received through consultations.

The Ministry of Rural Affairs will also collaborate with our partners at Invest Ontario, the province’s dedicated investment agency, to explore opportunities for increased economic development for rural Ontario.

Ongoing initiatives to support business development and attraction

Small business and entrepreneurship

Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses to start up, expand, grow and plan for succession including through:

Business growth and investment attraction

Supporting the growth of small-to-medium-sized businesses and attract new investments to rural communities through:

Tourism and Indigenous economic development

Supporting rural tourism opportunities and Indigenous community economic growth through:

  • Experience Ontario Program
  • Growing Agritourism Act, 2024
  • First Nations’ Economic Growth and Prosperity Table where the province is working with the Chiefs of Ontario with a $25 million investment to provide access to business loans and grants, supports digitization and e-commerce, as well as supply chain opportunities

Pillar three: Growing the rural workforce

Across rural Ontario, there are 1.2 million people working in a broad range of industries and occupations. The percentage of people participating in the rural labour force, however, has been declining over the years, mainly due to a more rapidly aging population in rural communities versus urban communities. This older working-age population highlights the additional need for workers as the workforce retires.

Having access to a skilled labour force is key for businesses to grow and thrive. Like in urban centres, many rural businesses have been challenged to find and retain the workers needed to grow their companies and local economy.

Goals

By 2035, this vision will focus Ontario as it strives to:

  • increase opportunities for rural youth to work and live in their hometowns
  • increase skills training and education opportunities
  • increase rural job opportunities
  • build confidence that rural businesses will have access to a skilled workforce

New initiatives to support growing the rural workforce

Ongoing initiatives to support growing the rural workforce

Promotion of rural employment opportunities

Building awareness and promoting the range of employment opportunities available in rural Ontario through:

  • funding to support AgScape to promote careers in the agri-food sector
  • Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative promoting the agri-good sector
  • Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program that helps high school students develop skills in sectors like manufacturing, mining, forestry, agriculture and energy
  • Indigenous Graduation Coach Program that helps Indigenous students obtain a high-school diploma and successfully transition into postsecondary education, training or labour market opportunities

Attraction and retention of workers

Providing tools, resources and incentives to attract and retain urban residents and newcomers to work in rural Ontario through:

Training

Providing skills training and workforce development supports through:

A bright future for rural Ontario

Our government has a plan for building a prosperous future for rural Ontario. When rural Ontario succeeds, the entire province succeeds. We all have a role to play in helping rural communities to be successful both now and in the future.  

The Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy represents a whole-of-government commitment that will help to improve economic opportunities, create, and retain jobs and support economic growth and resilience in rural communities across the province. This is a Strategy that requires partnerships and commitment.

As we move forward with purpose and partnership, we're creating the conditions for rural communities to innovate and lead in the global economy. Our shared commitment to rural prosperity isn't just about economic growth — it's about creating vibrant communities where families can build their futures, businesses can flourish and opportunities abound.

Together, we're writing the next chapter in rural Ontario's success story.