Ministry overview

Purpose

Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) strives to:

  • support the province’s agri-food sector
  • enforce and improve food safety
  • strengthen Ontario’s rural communities

OMAFRA's specific priorities include:

  • supporting the growth of Ontario’s agri-food sector
  • providing business support to farmers
  • supporting the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan
  • ensuring sustainability of agriculture
  • fostering vibrant rural economies

Through its actions, the ministry supports rural communities and the agri-food sector, which helps provide a high quality of life for all Ontario residents. By working together, we can create a stronger economy in Ontario.

Ministry contribution to priority outcomes

Cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burden

The ministry is committed to making rural Ontario and Ontario’s agri‐food sector open for business and open for jobs. The ministry is helping Ontarians’ succeed by cutting red tape and regulatory burdens while maintaining rules that protect food safety, public health and animal welfare.

The ministry is striving to create an environment for farmers and the agri-food sector to grow and prosper by making it easier and less costly to do business in the province. In a series of roundtables hosted by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, farmers, food processors and agri-businesses across Ontario have provided input on issues impacting the agricultural economy, such as ways to cut red tape.

The ministry continues to support the government’s actions under the Open for Business Action Plan (2018). This includes the province’s target to cut barriers to business growth by 25 per cent before 2020 and to achieve $400 million in savings government-wide on compliance costs for Ontario businesses.

Supporting local food

Buying local food supports a strong agri-food sector that feeds us, boosts our economy, and helps create good jobs across the province.

As we look ahead, we know demand for high-quality foods grown and processed in Ontario will only increase. By 2050 the world population is set to rise to nine billion and growing demand from countries, such as China, India, and Vietnam, is driving up global demand for meat and higher value agri-food products. Ontario is poised to respond to this opportunity. We have the people, drive, and know-how to help meet this demand, while making sure increased production does not compromise the environment.

The ministry is focused on fostering investment and job creation in Ontario. Working across the province, ministry staff help food and beverage processors and bio product manufacturers realize the potential of accessing new international markets for their products and driving greater foreign and domestic investment. These efforts mean more jobs in Ontario. The ministry continues to offer complete education, business to business and domestic trade show programming to further grow the consumption of Ontario grown and produced food and beverage products.

Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes $39.5 billion in GDP and supports over 822,000 jobs, representing 11.5 per cent of the province’s labour force.

Growing the agri-food sector through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Equally important for Ontario’s economic success is the work the ministry has undertaken in providing support to producers, processors, and organizations and collaborations through the agricultural policy framework known as the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Launched in April 2018, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative to strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, and increase its competitiveness, prosperity and sustainability. In Ontario, strategic initiatives focus on achieving key outcomes related to economic development, environmental stewardship, and protection and assurance.

The ministry is creating new economic opportunities for Ontario’s agri-food industry by providing targeted investments across the agri-food value chain and emphasizing the importance of two-way trade. The ministry also maintains its support of the supply management system to help maintain a stable, quality supply of products for Ontario’s food processers and consumers.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership also includes funding to help farmers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farm, such as unpredictable weather or market volatility.

Under the initiative, the federal and provincial governments have committed to an estimated $1.5 billion in the Ontario agri-food sector: $1.1 billion for Business Risk Management funding and $417 million for strategic initiatives funding.

This initiative is part of our government’s efforts to grow Ontario’s agri-food sector by strengthening the connection between food, producers, processors and consumers.

Risk Management Program

The government is committed to preserving Ontario’s Risk Management program. This includes exploring options to expand the program to better support farmers and producers in managing risks that are beyond their control, such as changing costs and market prices.

Expanding broadband

Improving broadband service to underserved areas

The government is committed to ensuring that communities across Ontario have access to critical broadband and cellular connectivity. In support of this commitment and to expand broadband and cellular infrastructure across Ontario, Ontario plans to invest $315 million over the next five years in regional and shovel‐ready projects. The government will also provide more details as part of its Broadband and Cellular Strategy, which will be released later this year.

Environmental stewardship

Ontario farmers, farm businesses and organizations, together with support from governments, continue to show their strong environmental commitment and leadership to advance the sector. Farmers continue to voluntarily adopt best management practices to sustainably manage their land and to achieve economic growth for this important sector of the provincial economy. They also continue to take action to support water quality improvements for the benefit of all Ontarians. This includes action to support reducing phosphorus entering Lake Erie’s western and central basins by 40 per cent before 2025. Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) initiative builds on the successes of the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative. LEADS will support farmers to reduce nutrient losses, particularly phosphorus, to improve soil health. These actions also enhance pollinator habitats, and strengthen the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

OMAFRA's approach to environmental stewardship will integrate and focus on supporting good environmental performance by building accountability in Ontario’s agri-food sector to demonstrate leadership in sustainability without unnecessary red tape, and regulatory burden. OMAFRA is prioritizing collaboration between agri-food industry, government, researchers, municipalities and non-governmental organizations. This collaboration achieves results with a range of non-regulatory/Open for Business approaches, expands uptake of best management practices by farmers, increases efficiency by leveraging resources and expertise through cooperation and strengthens our evidence base to measure performance, target investments and demonstrate progress.

The ministry enables innovation and fosters change to strengthen the social, economic and environmental sustainability of a diverse agriculture sector. The ministry works with agricultural organizations, rural clients, lenders, producers, agri-businesses, processors, academic and research institutions, internal clients (ministries/divisions/branches), and external governments to coordinate a wide range of initiatives. The ministry’s advisory services target areas to improve the anticipation, mitigation and response to risks; increase competitiveness, productivity and profitability; expand domestic and International markets and increase environmental sustainability. For example: monitoring pests; leveraging partnerships and research; developing a cross ministry approach to value chain growth; developing and disseminating relevant and timely information and best management practices; validating applicability of new technologies (i.e. changing technologies); and providing information on market-driven production systems.

OMAFRA also continues to foster vibrant rural economies by partnering in rural infrastructure programs, such as the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, the Rural and Northern stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, community and regional support programs, and the Rural Economic Development program.

Ministry programs

Strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural communities

Rural Ontario is home to about 2.5 million people, approximately 19 per cent of Ontario’s population. In addition to agricultural businesses, rural Ontario is home to diverse industries, including wholesale trade and retail trade, health care, social assistance, and manufacturing. The ministry offers resources under the headings of Economic Development, Research, Business Risk Management Transfers and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Capital.

Economic development

The ministry provides strategic agri-food business development programs and funding that support good jobs and attract investment. The ministry works with the entire value chain - primary producers, agriculture service providers, researchers, processors and retailers. Staff provide knowledge, expertise and production recommendations to address challenges and drive growth and expansion across the sectors.

OMAFRA provides a range of local and regional economic development programs and resources, including Business Retention and Expansion, First Impressions Community Exchange, Downtown Revitalization, Community Immigrant Retention in Rural Ontario, Newcomers and Youth Indicators, Regional Economic Analysis Resources, Performance Measurement Resources, and Regional Advisory Services.

The ministry’s Rural Economic Development program helps rural and Indigenous communities remove barriers to economic development, to better position them to attract investment, create jobs and enhance economic growth.

Programs such as Foodland Ontario help to increase awareness and celebration of local food and encourages consumers to choose Ontario food first. The ministry supports the use of the Foodland Ontario logo on Ontario fresh and processed food products.

Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector is an important economic engine and contributes to our high quality of life by providing good jobs and safe food.

Research

The ministry works in partnership with industry, academia, other ministries and provincial/federal governments and agencies to advance and deliver research and innovation that promotes the growth of the agriculture and food sectors. Each year, OMAFRA invests approximately $75 million in research. Agri-food research helps strengthen Ontario's competitive edge and leads to new products and contributes to safe food, healthy environment and strong communities.

The ministry’s renewed agreement with the University of Guelph, known as the Ontario Agri-food Innovation Alliance, is an essential component of research in Ontario’s agri-food and bio-products sector.

This longstanding partnership supports the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s agri-food sector, creates jobs and further solidifies the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food education, research and innovation.

This alliance has helped support many innovative projects, including technological developments that dairy farmers have commercialized and adopted to improve herd health, support breeding programs and improve profitability. In addition, this support has helped launch Mirexus, a spin-off company from University of Guelph research, that manufactures corn-based nanoparticles for cosmetic, biomedical and other applications.

The research, made possible through our continued partnership, will help equip undergraduate and graduate students with the skills they need to become the next generation of researchers, innovators and policy-makers in Ontario’s growing agri-food sector.

OMAFRA also invests in open research programs. These programs are competitive programs open to public and private research organizations through annual calls for proposals, drawing from a wide-range of institutions to address key priorities and emerging issues.

Open research programs have funded numerous projects to address a wide range of issues including food safety, climate change, soil health, water management, bio-products development, precision agriculture, and managed honey bee health.

The ministry works with industry and other partners to focus research priorities, co-invest in research projects and infrastructure, and to encourage uptake through knowledge mobilization and technology transfer activities.

OMAFRA is moving forward on implementing a strategy that will modernize its research and innovation programs, services and infrastructure, in partnership with governments, industry and academia. Through these partnerships, collaborations and strategically targeted investments, the government can leverage knowledge, technology and intellectual capacity, to build a sector that is aligned with government and industry priorities.

Business Risk Management transfers

Through its Business Risk Management (BRM) programming, the ministry helps Ontario’s agricultural producers manage risks beyond their control, including weather and market volatility. This programming also includes other assistance to support initiatives that improve sector profitability. OMAFRA offers a variety of programs, primarily delivered through its Crown agency, Agricorp.

Programs include the federal/provincial programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (AgriInvest, AgriStability, AgriInsurance (Production Insurance), AgriRisk and AgriRecovery), and the provincial-only Risk Management Program (RMP) which includes the Self-Directed Risk Management Program (SDRM) for edible horticulture.

Agriculture and rural affairs capital

Working with federal, provincial and municipal governments, OMAFRA administers several municipal capital programs on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI), with an emphasis on communities with populations of less than 100,000. These programs allow communities to build on projects that deliver on local needs, support revitalization and the repair of critical infrastructure and help to create jobs in construction and related industries.

The ministry’s research is supported by the infrastructure platforms of its agency, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), and includes research stations, labs and related agricultural infrastructure. These facilities provide the capacity for research on a wide variety of agri-food issues and support industry-driven research while leveraging third party investments. In 2018-19, a new Agronomy Research Services Building in Winchester was completed, and a significant portion of the new Beef Research Facility in Elora was completed.

Better public health and environment

OMAFRA provides oversight of the agri-food system in Ontario and has responsibility for emergencies related to farm animal disease, food contamination, and agricultural plant disease and pest infestation.

Ontario is maintaining standards to keep Ontario workers and families safe and healthy while working to reduce unnecessary red tape for farmers and agri-businesses, to help businesses grow and cut costs including:

  • engaging stakeholders in the review of the licensing, certification and permitting processes in more than 20 programs delivered by the ministry, to streamline processes and reduce burden on applicants
  • proposing changes to remove burdensome construction and equipment requirements for small dairy processors under the Milk Act, while respecting food safety and quality
  • proposing changes to burdensome regulations under the Food Safety and Quality Act, such as moving to a one-time licensing requirement for meat plants while maintaining a rigorous inspection system
  • proposing to proclaim into force the repeal of the Livestock Medicines Act (which contains outdated and duplicative requirements) and to substitute more streamlined requirements around animal health in new regulations under the Animal Health Act, 2009

OMAFRA is dedicated to enhancing food safety, animal health and animal welfare through education and outreach, advisory services, surveillance, compliance action, and emergency management. The ministry continues its ongoing work to become an effective modern regulator. OMAFRA staff work closely with farmers and agri-food processors to set clear expectations and achieve outcomes in meeting food safety and animal welfare regulatory requirements.

OMAFRA's outcome-based programs protect and advance public health, animal health, animal welfare, and food safety which ultimately support economic viability and sustainability of Ontario’s agriculture industry and rural communities, as well as provide confidence to consumers that Ontario’s food is safe.

OMAFRA is working closely with Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) partners and industry associations to advance the implementation of the three pillars of traceability (premises identification, animal identification and movement reporting) throughout the livestock sector in preparation for the amendment to the federal Health of Animals Act and Regulations, expected to be published in Canada Gazette I in 2020.

Managed honey bees are economically valuable pollinators, playing a crucial role in Ontario agriculture. OMAFRA works with beekeepers to maintain the viability of this sector through education and outreach, an inspection program, and monitoring for pathogens and pests. Through the ministry’s New Directions research program, almost $1 million has been invested in honey bee health research projects that will help find better ways of controlling damaging honey bee pests, such as varroa mites.

The ministry is working with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to enhance environmental protection efforts through technical education and outreach and advisory services to assist Ontario’s producers to address climate change issues and manage our soil and water resources.

Ontario launched a soil mapping initiative that will contribute to the growing understanding of how soil properties can inform land management. The new data collected by the soil mapping pilot will help farmers adjust their management practices by:

  • providing data to support agricultural production, management and stewardship practices
  • contributing information to support soil health efforts
  • further protecting the quality of Ontario's lakes, rivers and streams

OMAFRA is working with MECP on elements of the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan which have implications and opportunities for agri-food sector, including supporting the leadership of the agriculture and agri-food sector in Ontario Great Lakes Strategy and Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, the provincial climate change impact assessment and access for the sector to clean technology funding and compliance flexibility mechanisms. OMAFRA is working with sector leadership to revitalize the Environmental Farm Plan to drive and measure progress through industry-supported minimum standards and support economic growth by improving market access through industry-led global sustainability initiatives.

Following extensive public engagement and close collaboration with Indigenous communities, municipalities, agricultural organizations, conservation authorities, interest groups, and others, the government, with its partners, released the Canada-Ontario Action Plan for Lake Erie in February 2018.

The Action Plan outlines Canada’s and Ontario’s proposed actions to meet commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), and the Canada Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA), to reduce phosphorus entering the Central and Western Basins of Lake Erie by 40 per cent. To achieve these science-based targets, action is needed by all parties, including agriculture.

Of 128 actions in the Plan, 25 are directly related to agriculture. OMAFRA has the lead for 19 of those actions, and six actions have been introduced by the agriculture sector. Canada, Ontario and partners, under the Lake Erie Action Plan Implementation Team, are developing a workplan to document their ongoing implementation of the actions in the plan.

OMAFRA is working with the agriculture and food sector to find ways to provide consumers with competitively priced food while managing the impacts of climate change. With stewardship initiatives such as the Environmental Farm Plan, an education and risk assessment program for farmers, and the industry-led 4Rs Stewardship program (the right fertilizer at the right rate, the right time and in the right place), the ministry is continuously improving and adjusting recommendations for best management practices to be more effective in promoting soil health and in supporting a sustainable agriculture sector.

Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, $5.84 million in cost-share funding was paid out in 2018/19 to support farmers in implementing best management practices that reduce phosphorus loadings in the Lake Erie basin as well as practices across Ontario that support soil health.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program (April 2018-2023) supports research, monitoring, education, tool development and increased adoption of Best Management Practices (BMP)s for soil health and water quality priorities under the Environmental Stewardship priority area.

  • To build on the successes of Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) program, a new sub-program of CAP, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, provides technical support for field-specific risk assessment through the Farmland Health Check-Up and access to cost share funding over 5 years to support producers in taking action to reduce the risk of nutrient loss on farm.

OMAFRA's drainage program is guided by three pieces of legislation including the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act, the Tile Drainage Act and the Drainage Act. The businesses supported by the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act and the Tile Drainage Act invest $100 million annually in productivity improvements of agricultural land by improving trafficability and increasing crop productivity, while reducing soil erosion, and nutrient and sediment transport to water bodies. The industry is linked to over 100 independent businesses.

The Drainage Act provides a legal process and grants for landowners to petition a municipality to construct an outlet drainage system (commonly referred to as a “municipal drain”). Over 44,500 kilometers of outlet drains have been constructed supporting improved productivity of 1.9 million hectares of the 3.6 million hectares of cropland in Ontario.

Ontario and Quebec are collaborating on a $1.5 million call for proposals to research climate change impacts on soil health, food processing and food safety and the development of best practices to address those impacts.

In April 2018 the ministry released ‘New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy’, to help grow and sustain the province's strong agricultural sector, while protecting the environment and building resilience to climate change. The strategy is a long-term framework that sets a vision, goals and objectives for soil health and conservation in Ontario from 2018 to 2030, including a number of actions for government and industry leadership. The strategy was developed collaboratively with stakeholders and continued collaboration will support its successful implementation.

Ministry administration and policy

OMAFRA continues to provide high quality customer service and delivers programs efficiently. To drive the success for rural Ontario, the ministry will ensure rural consideration is given in policy and programs across government and will develop key performance measures and metrics to promote economic growth and opportunities to support a high quality of life for its residents.

Following the March 2019 announcement by the Open Government Office in the Ontario Digital Service, OMAFRA will continue to support the resumption and expansion of the publication of open data to Ontario’s Data Catalogue. Sharing government data aligns with the recommendations of the Ernst & Young report (line by line review), which notes that sharing data and information is in the public interest. Publishing reliable, trustworthy and valuable government data to the public through Ontario’s Data Catalogue unlocks the value of data held by the government, provides transparency and accountability for government spending and decision-making, helps government and business build better programs and services; and is a key to creating a true digital-first government.

The ministry will also continue to meet its requirements under the Ontario government’s Digital First strategy for Ontario to be the first government in Canada to mandate an all-of-government digital approach to service delivery.

Ministry Planned Expenditures 2019-20 ($M)
Expenditure TypeAmount ($M)
Operating685.5
Capital192.7
Total878.2

Highlights of 2018-19 results

  • The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is committed to delivering effective and efficient programming. In 2018-19, the ministry implemented additional efficiency measures and controls to help manage spending.
  • In 2018, agri-food exports rose to $16.0 billion, up 7.1 per cent from $14.9 billion in 2017.
  • OMAFRA is partnering with other ministries to review the licensing, certification and permitting processes in more than 20 programs delivered by the ministry. The goal is to identify ways to streamline processes and reduce burden on applicants.
  • On March 18, 2019, the Ontario government established the final goal of the Local Food Act, 2013. The goal, removing red tape barriers and opening the door for local food in the broader public sector, will make it easier for organizations like colleges, universities, hospitals and municipalities to procure local food.
  • The Ontario government continues to support the growth and success of the province’s wine and grape industry. Under the VQA Wine Support Program, 97 wineries received payments totalling $7.5 million in 2018. In 2018-19, the government also provided approximately $2 million to 64 Ontario cideries and distilleries under the Small Cidery and Small Distillery Support program. The government is proceeding with the final year of the Ontario Wine Fund and the Small Cidery and Small Distillery Support programs before their sunset in April 2020.
  • In 2018, Ontario entered into a new 10-year partnership with the University of Guelph that will support the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s agri-food sector, create jobs and further solidify the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food education, research and innovation.
  • OMAFRA has been working with the agriculture industry, and other partners, so that Ontario’s farmers have the tools they need to effectively manage their risks and grow their businesses.
  • The ministry updated the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program to make it easier for farmers to access compensation when they lose livestock to predators.
  • Through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership, up to $6 million in cost-shared funding in 2018/19 has been committed to support producers in implementing best management practices that reduce phosphorus loadings in the Lake Erie basin as well as practices across Ontario that support soil health.
  • The government committed to expand broadband and cellular infrastructure across Ontario through an investment of $315 million over the next five years in regional and shovel-ready projects.
  • Over 420 communities receive funding through formula-based allocations to support community focused projects identified in local asset management plans.

For more details on these and other successes, please see the annual report appended to this document.

Ministry organization chart

  • Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister Responsible for Small Business – Honourable Ernie Hardeman
    • OMAFRA Classified Agencies
    • Parliamentary Assistant - Randy Pettapiece
    • Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - Greg Meredith
      • Legal Servicesfootnote 1 - Jeff Schelling
      • Communications Branch - Rebecca Morier
      • Chief Information Officer Land and Resources IT Clusterfootnote 2 - John DiMarco
      • Research & Corporate Services Division - Christine Primeau
        • Business Services Branch - Heather Harrison (A)
        • Research & Innovation Branch - Jen Liptrot
        • Business Planning & Financial Management Branch - Lee-Ann Walker
        • Strategic HR Branch - Alaina Oda (A)
        • Audit Services Branchfootnote 3 - Nancy Lavoie
      • Food Safety & Environment Division - Deb Sikora
        • Food Safety Systems Development Branch - Gavin Downing
        • Food Safety Inspection Delivery Branch - Kelly McAslan
        • Environmental Management Branch - Colleen Fitzgerald-Hubble
        • Animal Health & Welfare Branch - Dr. Leslie Woodcock
      • Economic Development Division - Randy Jackiw
        • Agriculture Development Branch - Annette Anderson
        • Business Development Branch - Doug Reddick
        • Rural Programs Branch - Carolyn Hamilton
        • Regional Economic Development Branch - George Borovilos
      • Policy Division - Phil Malcolmson
        • Farm Finance Branch - Heather Cassidy (A)
        • Economic Development Policy Branch - Thom Hagerty
        • Food Safety & Environmental Policy Branch - Sharon Bailey
        • Intergovernmental & Trade Policy Branch - Brendan McKay
        • Rural & Agri-Food Corporate Policy Branch - Scott Duff
        • Director, Farm Products Marketing Commission - David Hagarty

Agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ (OMAFRA) agencies perform a range of functions, from delivering Business Risk Management Programs, to supervising Ontario’s 22 marketing boards and three representative commodity associations, to fulfilling other regulatory, operational, trust and advisory functions.

The ministry is responsible for the governance and oversight of 12 provincial agencies in accordance with the Agencies & Appointments Directive, 2015. The following is a list of the ministry’s agencies, boards and commissions who are accountable to the Minister.

Consolidated agencies

Agencies with assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses greater than $50 million, or an annual surplus or deficit, or receiving an outside revenue source of greater than $10 million, are consolidated in OMAFRA's budget.

Agricorp

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational Enterprise

Constituting instrument: AgriCorp Act

Function:

Agricorp was created in 1997 with a mandate to deliver crop insurance and other agricultural business risk management programs. Agricorp currently delivers three core programs, AgriStability, Production Insurance and the suite of Risk Management Programs, as well as several smaller programs, such as the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program.

Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational Service

Constituting instrument: Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario Act

Function:

ARIO provides strategic advice to the ministry regarding the direction of ministry funded research programs in the areas of agriculture, food, veterinary medicine and household science. In addition, ARIO administers research programs on behalf of the ministry and owns and manages the province’s agri-food research infrastructure.

Financial Information for Consolidated Agencies ($M)
Agency2017-18 Expenditure Actuals2017-18 Revenue Actuals2018-19 Expenditure Interim Actuals2018-19 Revenue Interim Actuals2019-20 Expenditure Estimates2019-20 Revenue Estimates
Agricorp107.31128.39174.58149.32133.05183.38
ARIO13.668.84(1.52)2.802.824.45

Non-consolidated agencies

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (AFRAAT)/Board of Negotiation (BON)

Type of agency: Non Board-governed/Adjudicative

Constituting instrument: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act and Environmental Protection Act

Function:

The function of the AFRAAT is to provide a fair and impartial hearing and decision process for those who are aggrieved by a direction, policy, order or decision, or who require the resolution of a dispute pursuant to one of 17 provincial statutes related to the agriculture and food industry. Most of the matters heard by the Tribunal arise from appeals of decisions made under the following eight statutes: Drainage Act, Agricultural Products Insurance Act, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Act (for appeals of decisions made under the Farm Products Marketing Act and the Milk Act), Assessment Act, Food Safety and Quality Act, Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act (applications heard), Farm Implements Act and Agricultural Employees Protection Act.

The BON was established to provide people seeking settlement in cases where contaminants have caused damage to livestock, crops, trees or other vegetation, a place to present their case to obtain a non-binding decision by an independent panel of agency appointees. While the jurisdiction for requesting assistance from the BON falls with the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in legislation, the administration of the process for BON hearings was transferred to OMAFRA in 1999. Since that time, no cases have been brought forward for a BON decision.

Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (NFPPB)

Type of agency: Non Board-governed/Adjudicative

Constituting instrument: Farming and Food Production Protection Act

Function:

The NFPPB reviews and resolves disputes related to an agricultural operation, including the determination of what constitutes a normal farm practice; and makes the necessary inquiries and orders to ensure compliance with its decisions.

Grain Financial Protection Board (GFPB)/Livestock Financial Protection Board (LFPB)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Trust

Constituting instrument: Farm Products Payments Act

Function:

Under the Farm Products Payments Act, funds and boards are established to protect producers from non-payment by licensed buyers.

The GFPB collects fees, administers a compensation fund and makes decisions on claims made against the fund. The fund was set up under the Grain Financial Protection Program to protect producers of grain corn, soybeans, wheat and canola in the event of defaults on payment by licensed buyers. It also protects owners of grain who store their grain in licensed grain elevators.

The LFPB collects fees, administers a compensation fund and makes decisions on claims made against the fund. The fund was set up under the Ontario Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program to protect producers and other sellers of beef cattle in the event of defaults on payment by licensed buyers.

Business Risk Management Review Committee (BRMRC)

Type of agency: Advisory

Constituting instrument: Order in Council

Function:

The BRMRC has the authority to consider requests for reviews and make non-binding recommendations to the program administration for the following programs: AgriStability; Ontario's Risk Management Program (including Ontario's Self-Directed Risk Management Program); Ontario’s Wildlife Damage Compensation Program; and, any other program to which the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Minister assigns responsibility.

Livestock Medicines Advisory Committee (LMAC)

Type of agency: Advisory

Constituting instrument: Livestock Medicines Act

Function:

The LMAC reviews all legislation and regulations related to livestock medicines and their use, and to advise the Minister on matters relating to their control and regulation. It evaluates and recommends procedures related to their sale and the proper standards for livestock medicine maintenance, handling and storage. The LMAC also makes recommendations respecting the description of drugs or classes of drugs for sale under a licence or any class of licence and make inquiries and reports back to the Minister on any matter as referred.

Rural Economic Development Advisory Panel (REDAP)

Type of agency: Advisory

Constituting instrument: Order in Council

Function:

The REDAP is responsible for providing non-binding recommendations to the Minister on applications for funding under the Rural Economic Development (RED) program and any other program that the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Minister may assign.

Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC)

Type of agency: Non Board-governed/Regulatory

Constituting instrument: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act

Function:

The OFPMC administers the Farm Products Marketing Act and the Milk Act, develops and implements regulated marketing policy, represents Ontario’s interests in regulated marketing at the national level and supervises Ontario's 22 marketing boards and three designated associations. It also provides leadership in the form of advice, facilitation and direction, as well as educational programs to these boards and associations.

Ontario Food Terminal Board (OFTB)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational Enterprise

Constituting instrument: Ontario Food Terminal Act

Function:

The OFTB has a mandate to acquire, construct, equip and operate a wholesale fruit and produce market, and operate such facility for the distribution and handling of fruit and produce.

Detailed financial information

Combined operating and capital summary by vote

Operating Expense
Votes/ProgramsEstimates 2019-20 $Change from Estimates 2018-19 $%Estimates 2018-19footnote 4 $Interim Actuals 2018-19footnote 4 $Actuals 2017-18footnote 4 $
Ministry Administration Program23,159,90031,4000.123,128,50025,319,90025,202,285
Ministry Administration Program23,159,90031,4000.123,128,50025,319,90025,202,285
Better Public Health and Environment79,515,200(9,761,300)(10.9)89,276,50073,792,80082,567,164
Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities424,950,900(81,036,000)(16.0)505,986,900468,621,200458,663,940
Policy Development17,634,400--17,634,40016,835,80017,913,775
Total Operating Expense to be Voted545,260,400(90,765,900)(14.3)636,026,300584,569,700584,347,164
Statutory Appropriations1,081,014--1,081,0143,321,600624,396
Ministry Total Operating Expense546,341,414(90,765,900)(14.2)637,107,314587,891,300584,971,560
Consolidation Adjustment - Agricorp132,378,800(11,647,000)(8.1)144,025,800173,827,900106,788,507
Consolidation Adjustment - Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)6,833,000355,0005.56,478,0006,980,70015,511,109
Operating Expense Adjustment – Cap and Trade Wind Down Account Reclassification-(11,510,000)(100.0)11,510,0001,280,3003,366,926
Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments685,553,214(113,567,900)(14.2)799,121,114769,980,200710,638,102
Operating Assets
Votes/ProgramsEstimates 2019-20 $Change from Estimates 2018-19 $%Estimates 2018-19footnote 4 $Interim Actuals 2018-19footnote 4 $Actuals 2017-18footnote 4 $
Ministry Administration Program1,000--1,0001,000-
Better Public Health and Environment9,000,000(3,000,000)(25.0)12,000,0006,000,0001,286,000
Total Operating Assets to be Voted9,001,000(3,000,000)(25.0)12,001,0006,001,0001,286,000
Ministry Total Operating Assets9,001,000(3,000,000)(25.0)12,001,0006,001,0001,286,000
Capital Expense
Votes/ProgramsEstimates 2019-20 $Change from Estimates 2018-19 $%Estimates 2018-19footnote 4 $Interim Actuals 2018-19footnote 4 $Actuals 2017-18footnote 4 $
Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities196,025,200(39,060,700)(16.6)235,085,900231,112,000173,104,396
Total Capital Expense to be Voted196,025,200(39,060,700)(16.6)235,085,900231,112,000173,104,396
Ministry Total Capital Expense196,025,200(39,060,700)(16.6)235,085,900231,112,000173,104,396
Consolidation Adjustment - Agricorp676,000(2,100)(0.3)678,100751,600520,494
Consolidation Adjustment - Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)(4,008,300)4,941,700-(8,950,000)(8,500,000)(1,853,876)
Consolidation Adjustment - Colleges-4,561,600-(4,561,600)(9,123,300)(5,579,200)
Capital Expense Adjustment - Trillium Trust Reclassification-(177,403,500)(100.0)177,403,500177,403,500128,840,483
Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments192,692,900(206,963,000)(51.8)399,655,900391,643,800295,032,297
Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets)
Votes/ProgramsEstimates 2019-20 $Change from Estimates 2018-19 $%Estimates 2018-19footnote 4 $Interim Actuals 2018-19footnote 4 $Actuals 2017-18footnote 4 $
Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets)878,246,114(320,530,900)(26.7)1,198,777,0141,161,624,0001,005,670,399
71%

Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities: $622M

15%

Consolidated Agencies and Adjustments: $136M

9%

Better Public Health and Environment: $80M

3%

Ministry Administration Program: $23M

2%

Policy Development: $18M


Historic Trend Analysis DataActuals 2016-17 $Actuals 2017-18 $Estimates 2018-19footnote 5 $Estimates 2019-20 $
Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets)1,030,944,3021,005,670,3991,198,777,014878,246,114
Variance (%)--2%19%-27%

The ministry’s historical trends fluctuate primarily due to variability in its demand driven programs, which make up the majority of its budget. Recent historical Actuals reflect years where Ontario farmers have not had to considerably draw on these programs as economic and weather conditions were generally positive.

The 2018-19 Estimates show a budget ready to support Ontario’s farmers in the event of poor economic or weather conditions. In addition to this, the 2018-19 Estimates reflect an increase in the municipal infrastructure programs that OMAFRA delivers on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI).

The 2019-20 Estimates show a decrease relative to 2018-19, largely due to the ministry having only a partial budget for the municipal infrastructure programs to begin the 2019-20 fiscal year.

For additional financial information, see:

Appendix: 2018-19 Annual Report

2018-19 results

The Ontario government is committed to making rural Ontario, and Ontario’s agri-food sector, open for business and open for jobs.

It is doing so by reducing red tape and regulatory burdens while maintaining rules that protect food safety, health and animal welfare. The Province is investing in key programs like the Risk Management Program, fighting for supply managed commodities on the world stage, and recognizing farmers as the best stewards of their land.

Ontario is shrinking administrative costs while improving government services for farmers, food processors and agri-businesses across Ontario.

Restoring accountability and trust

  • The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is committed to delivering effective and efficient programming. In 2018-19, the ministry implemented additional efficiency measures and controls to help manage spending. The ministry:
    • reduced its communication and related activities, including limiting all staff travel to essential services or other necessary travel, and scaling back its presence at events
    • identified expenses that could be put on hold, while having limited impact on the ministry’s program and services delivery

Strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors

  • Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes $39.5 billion to the provincial GDP and supports over 822,000 jobs, representing 11.5 per cent of the province’s labour force.
  • In 2018, agri-food exports rose to $16.0 billion, up 7.1 per cent from $14.9 billion in 2017.
    • Ontario is the top agri-food exporting Canadian province, followed by Saskatchewan.
    • In 2018, Ontario’s major export partners were the US (74%) followed by Asia (excl. Japan) (12.7%) and the EU (5.6%).
  • In 2018-19, the ministry influenced $636 million in investments and the creation/retention of 1,616 jobs by Ontario food and beverage manufacturers.
  • The ministry hosted five events where Ontario food and beverage manufacturers met directly with grocery retail buyers. This resulted in over $3 million in new local incremental sales and over 500 new local products now featured in Ontario grocery stores.
  • The Ontario Food Terminal is the largest wholesale fruit and vegetable terminal in Canada and plays a key role in moving produce from Ontario and around the world to Ontario families. The government is looking at opportunities to make it even better for the next 5, 10, 50 years. This includes:
    • the formation of a Minister’s Advisory Group, including the modernization of the Ontario Food Terminal
    • an independent review to provide an in-depth, independent assessment of the opportunities and challenges for economic growth at the Ontario Food Terminal
    • consultations on the Ontario Food Terminal’s long-term success
    • managed honey bees are economically valuable pollinators, playing a crucial role in Ontario agriculture
      • OMAFRA works with beekeepers to maintain the viability of the sector through education and outreach, an inspection program, and monitoring for pathogens and pests.

Cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burden

  • Ontario is maintaining standards to keep Ontario workers and families safe and healthy while working to reduce unnecessary red tape for farmers and agri-businesses, to help businesses grow and cut costs.
  • OMAFRA is targeting unduly costly and burdensome regulations within the agri-food sector while maintaining rules that help keep Ontarians safe and healthy.
  • OMAFRA is partnering with other ministries to review the licensing, certification and permitting processes in more than 20 programs delivered by the ministry. The goal is to identify ways to streamline processes and reduce burden on applicants. These include:
    • proposed changes to remove burdensome construction and equipment requirements for small dairy processors under the Milk Act, while respecting food safety and quality
    • proposed changes to regulations under the Food Safety and Quality Act, such as moving to a one-time licensing requirement for meat plants
    • a proposal to repeal the Livestock Medicines Act, which contains outdated and duplicative requirements, and to include more streamlined requirements around animal health in new regulations under the Animal Health Act, 2009
    • with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, OMAFRA has proposed streamlining the regulation under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 to remove the requirement to update a strategy every five years, if nothing has changed, and to increase flexibility to deal with nutrients from farm-like animals that are kept on facilities other than farms, such as game farms
  • Made changes to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act that, once proclaimed, would allow future changes to the ministry’s loan guarantee programs to be made faster to ensure that they remain responsive and relevant to the grain and beef cattle sectors.

Supporting local food

  • Buying and supporting local food creates jobs and economic growth in communities across Ontario. In 2018-2019:
    • Foodland Ontario encouraged people to choose Ontario foods first and the program continues to maintain a high recognition rate at almost 90 per cent with consumers.
    • The annual Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards are the produce industry's premier competition for excellence in retail display and promotion in support of local Ontario foods. In 2018/19, over 4,250 entries were submitted featuring fresh Ontario produce.
    • OMAFRA partnered with the Dietitians of Canada and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association to deliver year six of the Fresh from the Farm program that allows schools to raise funds by selling bundles of Ontario produce. In 2018-19, 556 schools participated, which was a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.
  • On March 18, 2019, the Ontario government established the final goal of the Local Food Act, 2013. The goal, removing red tape barriers and opening the door for local food in the broader public sector, will make it easier for organizations like colleges, universities, hospitals and municipalities to procure local food.
    • This goal is an outcome of the Ontario government’s consultation with stakeholders in the winter of 2019.
    • The consultations resulted in the identification of red tape barriers to the use of local food by the Broader Public Sector (BPS), as well as current strategies to increase the use of local food by public institutions.
  • The Ontario government continues to support the growth and success of the province’s wine and grape industry. Under the VQA Wine Support Program, 97 wineries received payments totalling $7.5 million in 2018. In 2018-19, the government also provided approximately $2 million to 64 Ontario cideries and distilleries under the Small Cidery and Small Distillery Support program.

Research

  • In 2018, Ontario entered into a new 10-year partnership with the University of Guelph that will support the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s agri-food sector, create jobs and further solidify the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food education, research and innovation.

Farm finance

  • OMAFRA has been working with the agriculture industry, and other partners, so that Ontario’s farmers have the tools they need to effectively manage their risks and grow their businesses. The ministry:
    • updated the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program to make it easier for farmers to access compensation when they lose livestock to predators
    • worked with the beef cattle sector to make changes to the Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program to reduce red tape and overall costs for Feeder Cattle Co-operatives and fix long-standing issues with the program such as reducing the frequency of credit checks
    • provided timely responses to help farmers affected by high levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON) in the 2018 corn crop, including:
      • the provision of best practices for harvesting and storing infected corn
      • changes to the Commodity Loan Guarantee Program to help farmers access the credit they need to stay in business
      • work with the grain sector and Agricorp to provide a new tiered salvage benefit in 2019 to better offset the extraordinary costs of bringing high-DON corn to market should farmers face similar situations in the future; and
      • up to $4.5 million is aimed at covering a portion of eligible farmers’ expenses from testing for DON levels, $2.0 million to support new projects to address challenges at different points in the corn sector value chain (e.g. better methods to best process or market impacted corn), and an investment of $550,000 with the Grain Farmers of Ontario to conduct research and new actions to reduce the frequency and impact of high DON levels in the future.

Agricultural system and growth plan

  • OMAFRA developed the Agricultural System for the Greater Golden Horseshoe comprised of: an Agricultural Land Base Map, and online Agricultural System Map Portal.
  • OMAFRA is working with municipalities to implement the Agricultural System in the Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and Niagara Escarpment Plan areas.
  • For the Growth Plan area, OMAFRA worked with Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) to develop and consult on changes to the Growth Plan that were proposed in Amendment 1 of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Once Amendment 1 of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe is finalized and released, OMAFRA will resume working with municipalities in the Growth Plan area to implement the Agricultural System and release updated Implementation Procedures for the Agricultural System in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Environmental stewardship

  • Ontario’s agri-food sector has continued to show leadership in environmental stewardship.
  • The Made-in-Ontario Environmental Plan, released on November 29, 2018, specifically identified support for on-farm soil and water quality programming and work with partners to improve agricultural management practices. This included support for programs and partnerships intended to make the agriculture and food sectors more resilient to current and future climate impacts.
  • OMAFRA has supported sector efforts by collaborating with partners, investing in stewardship programs, supporting science and performance measurement to inform industry action, and reducing red tape for farmers and food processors.
  • Through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership, up to $6 million in cost-shared funding in 2018/19 has been committed to support producers in implementing best management practices that reduce phosphorus loadings in the Lake Erie basin as well as practices across Ontario that support soil health.
    • The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (April 2018-2023), a five-year investment, supports research, monitoring, education, tool development and increased adoption of BMPs for soil health and water quality priorities under the Environmental Stewardship priority area.
  • To build on the successes of Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) initiative, a new sub-program under the Partnership, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, will provide cost-shared technical support for field-specific risk assessment through the Farmland Health Check-Up and access to cost-share funding over five years to help farmers take action to reduce the risk of nutrient loss on farm.
  • Drainage is vital to an effective and competitive agricultural industry and rural Ontario. Over $100 million annually is privately invested in drainage, linked to over 100 independent businesses. The ministry issues licenses, inspects new machines, operators and businesses to ensure licensing conditions are met, and inspects and mediates complaints about workmanship of the installation. Courses in drainage installation and design were offered in 2018 in support of the licensing system.
  • OMAFRA also administers the Tile Drainage Act and the Tile Loan program in partnership with participating municipalities, as well as the Drainage Act, which provides a process to petition a municipality to construct a municipal drain.
    • The program also provides grants to municipalities for construction, maintenance and repair of drainage systems and the cost to the municipality of employing a drainage superintendent.
    • In 2018, a total of 2,750 drainage-related projects were supported with $8.1 million in grants paid or financing, as well as $2.9 million in grants paid to 156 municipalities for drainage superintendent costs.
  • In April 2018 the ministry released ‘New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy’, to help grow and sustain the province's strong agricultural sector, while protecting the environment and building resilience to climate change. The strategy is a long-term framework that sets a vision, goals and objectives for soil health and conservation in Ontario from 2018 to 2030, including a number of actions for leadership by government and soil care partners as well as a framework for measuring progress. The strategy was developed collaboratively with stakeholders and continued collaboration will support its successful implementation.

Food safety and animal protection

  • Food safety and animal protection are priorities for Ontario. OMAFRA provided inspection services to:
    • approximately 118 provincially licensed slaughter plants
      • inspectors are present in provincially licensed abattoirs to ensure food safety and animal welfare regulatory requirements were met
    • approximately 360 provincially licensed freestanding plants
      • inspectors are present to ensure food safety requirements were met
  • OMAFRA's Meat Inspection Program (MIP):
    • worked with operators to improve hygienic slaughter and reduce the pathogen levels on beef and veal carcasses through encouraging operators to apply microbial control interventions to their beef and veal carcasses to improve hygienic slaughter practices and reduce pathogen levels
    • continued efforts to reduce burden through streamlining the meat plant licence application form and proposing changes to the Meat Regulation (O. Reg. 31/05) that will reduce administrative burden, clarify requirements to provide more business opportunities and move to more outcome-based requirements
    • continued to work with meat plant operators, the Muslim Association of Canada, and Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to raise awareness of and compliance with provincial regulations for Eid-al-Adha (Eid) at licensed meat plants across Ontario, by using communication materials to protect animal welfare and food safety
  • OMAFRA worked with farmers’ markets to ensure compliance with produce labelling regulation so that consumers can clearly identify where their food comes from.

Strong rural communities

  • The Ontario government understands that access to affordable broadband connectivity is key to innovation and economic growth in rural Ontario. In 2018-19, OMAFRA continued its work with other ministries to support the growth of manufacturing and the digital economy in rural Ontario. This included working with the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) to provide a rural lens on the development of a Provincial Broadband and Cellular Strategy, which will be released later this year. Connectivity and broadband is an eligible category under the Small Communities Fund (SCF), which will fund priority infrastructure projects, including broadband infrastructure in rural Ontario.
  • The government committed to expand broadband and cellular infrastructure across Ontario through an investment of $315 million over the next five years in regional and shovel-ready projects.
  • The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) provides significant funding for the repair and revitalization of roads, bridges, water and wastewater (including stormwater) infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities.
  • Over 420 communities receive funding through formula-based allocations to support community focused projects identified in local asset management plans.
  • This OCIF funding is helping communities make critical investments in local infrastructure, while creating jobs and boosting economic growth. OMAFRA is working with the Ministry of Infrastructure on the redesign of OCIF as part of Ontario’s line-by-line review to make all government spending more effective and reduce Ontario’s fiscal burden.
  • In the fall of 2018, the Province introduced legislation to support the development of a program to expand natural gas access to more parts of rural and Northern Ontario, including First Nations communities. The Natural Gas Expansion Support Program will help businesses in rural and Northern Ontario cut energy costs, improve their competitiveness and attract more investment.

Ministry administration and policy

  • As part of the Ontario government’s Digital First strategy to put people at the centre of modern public services, the ministry worked to identify barriers to working digitally that are embedded in its legislation or regulations. As part of this step, OMAFRA proposed changes to the Bees Act and to the Drainage Act that were included in the 2019 Ontario budget.
  • Successfully transitioned the delivery of the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program and began the transition of the Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program to Agricorp to make it easier for farmers to access more of the programs they need in one place and to find efficiencies in program delivery.
  • Introduced changes through the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act (Bill 66) to support electronic delivery and a simplified registration process for the Farm Business Registration Program that, when implemented, will reduce paperwork and save farmers time.
Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2018-19
Expenditure TypeMinistry Interim Actual Expenditures ($M) 2018-19footnote 6
Operating770.0
Capital391.6
Staff Strengthfootnote 7 (as of March 31, 2019)862.95