Minister’s Order

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 Covid-19 Pandemic represented and continues to represent a significant challenge for agriculture, food and rural affairs;

And whereas I established the Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products under Minister’s Order 0004/2020 to help address the immediate challenges COVID-19 created for the agricultural and food sectors;

And whereas the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund is an initiative established under the Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products;

And whereas funding for the Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products ends on March 31, 2024;

And whereas funding for the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund needs to be extended to beyond March 31, 2024 to allow the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund to be properly wound down;

And whereas funding is available under the Grassroots Growth Program, which is established pursuant to the Previous Order, to cover the required extension for the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund;

And whereas the Previous Order needs to be amended to place the Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products thereunder;

And whereas sections 49 and 54 of the Legislation Act, 2006 have the effect of providing the authority to amend, revoke or replace from time to time an order establishing a program under section 6.2(1) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act;

And whereas the Minister’s Order establishing the Grassroots Growth Program was issued pursuant to section 6.2(1) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act;

And whereas I, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, wish to make amendments to the Previous Order;

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, I hereby amend the Previous Order as set out in this 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; and
    • “Previous Order” means Minister’s Order 0007/2019, which established the Program as of April 17, 2019, as amended.
  2. Any capitalized term not specifically defined within this Order will have the meaning set out under the Previous Order.

Part 2 — Addition of Part X — General 2.0 to Previous Order

  1. The following is added to the Previous Order:

    Part X — General 2.0

    10.1 The Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products, as set out under Appendix One of this Order, is a sub-program of the Program.

    10.2 Despite anything else contained in this Order, the Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products will be interpreted and applied as set out under Appendix One of this Order. Nothing in this Order will affect how Appendix One of this Order is to be interpreted or applied.

Part 3 — Addition of Appendix One to Previous Order

  1. Minister’s Order 0004/2020, which establishes the Supply Chain Assistance Program for Agri-Food and Agri-Products, is added as Appendix One to the Previous 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 25th day of March, 2024.