Whereas the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector provides an important economic and social contribution within Ontario;

And whereas the Program was established to address challenges related to agriculture, food and rural affairs;

And whereas the drought is a significant challenge for agriculture, food and rural affairs;

And whereas the Previous Order needs to be amended to include drought as a significant challenge for agriculture, food and rural affairs to assist those experiencing adverse effects from drought;

And whereas section 6.2 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act provides the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with the authority to establish programs for the encouragement of agriculture, food and rural affairs within Ontario;

And whereas sections 49 and 54 of the Legislation Act, 2006 has the effect of providing the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with the power to amend, revoke or replace from time to time an order establishing a program under section 6.2 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act;

And whereas I, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, am of the opinion that making amendments to the Previous Order to include drought therein is for the encouragement of agriculture, food and rural affairs in Ontario;

Now therefore, and pursuant to my authority under section 6.2 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act and sections 49 and 54 of the Legislation Act, 2006, I hereby order the Previous Order be amended as set out in the herein Order.

Part 1 - Interpretation

  1. For the purposes of this Order, the following terms will have the meanings set out below:

    "Order" means this Minister's Order;

    "Previous Order" means Minister's Order 0007/2019, which established the Program as of April 17, 2019, as amended by Minister's Order 0007/2020;

    "Program" means the Grassroots Growth Program;

  2. Any capitalized term not defined within this Order will have the same meaning as set out under the Previous Order.

Part 2 - Amendment to Part II - Purpose of the Grassroots Program of the Previous Order

  1. Part II of the Previous Order is amended by adding the following as section 2.2 to the Previous Order:

    2.2 Without limiting anything set out in section 2.1 of this Order, the purpose of this Program is to also address issues arising from drought or drought-like conditions in Ontario.

Part 3 - Amendment to Part V - Administration of the Grassroots Growth Program of the Previous Order

  1. Part V of the Previous Order is amended by adding the following as section 5.3.1 to the Previous Order:

    5.3.1 Despite section 5.3 of this Order, the Initiative Director may set out in Guidelines for any Initiative related to the drought that began approximately on June 1, 2021 and is occurring in Ontario that one or more requirements set out in section 6.1 of this Order are not applicable to that Initiative other than the requirements set out in section 6.1 d and 6.1 e of this Order.

  2. Section 6.1 f of the Previous Order is amended by adding the words "or 2.2" after the reference to "2.1".
  3. Part V of the Previous Order is amended by adding the following as section 6.2 to the Previous Order:

    6.2 The Initiative Director may set out additional eligibility requirements in Guidelines for any Initiative related to the drought that began approximately on June 1, 2021 and is occurring in Ontario than what is set out in section 6.1 of this Order.

This Order comes into effect on signature.

Original signed by

The Honourable Lisa Thompson
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Executed on this 26th day of July, 2021.