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

Operating expense

Vote Program Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
101 Ministry Administration Program $22,902,300 $22,902,300 - $24,961,446
107 Better Public Health and Environment $90,770,000 $87,070,000 $3,700,000 $76,962,148
108 Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities $481,253,300 $512,709,100 ($31,455,800) $435,569,903
109 Policy Development $15,944,200 $15,944,200 - $15,522,464
  Total operating expense to be voted $610,869,800 $638,625,600 ($27,755,800) $553,015,961
  Statutory appropriations $2,096,014 $2,096,014 - $680,018
  Ministry total operating expense $612,965,814 $640,721,614 ($27,755,800) $553,695,979
  Consolidation adjustment - agricorp $141,983,200 $143,546,500 ($1,563,300) $92,369,567
  Consolidation adjustment - Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) $13,063,500 $6,418,000 $6,645,500 $6,519,335
  Consolidation adjustment - Ontario Racing Commission - $5,927,500 ($5,927,500) $5,275,000
  Total including consolidation and other adjustments $768,012,514 $796,613,614 ($28,601,100) $657,859,881

Operating assets

Vote Program Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
101 Ministry Administration Program $300,000 $300,000 - -
107 Better Public Health and Environment $12,300,000 $12,300,000 - $3,149,000
108 Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities $305,000 $305,000 - -
  Total operating assets to be voted $12,905,000 $12,905,000 - $3,149,000
  Ministry total operating assets $12,905,000 $12,905,000 - $3,149,000

Capital expense

Vote Program Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
108 Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities $158,782,600 $158,799,600 ($17,000) $199,725,454
  Total capital expense to be voted $158,782,600 $158,799,600 ($17,000) $199,725,454
  Ministry total capital expense $158,782,600 $158,799,600 ($17,000) $199,725,454
  Consolidation adjustment - agricorp $888,500 $753,800 $134,700 $1,528,000
  Consolidation adjustment - Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) ($11,765,300) ($11,212,000) ($553,300) ($12,542,809)
  Consolidation adjustment - Ontario Racing Commission - $70,000 ($70,000) $75,000
  Total including consolidation and other adjustments $147,905,800 $148,411,400 ($505,600) $188,785,645
  Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) $915,918,314 $945,025,014 ($29,106,700) $846,645,526

Reconciliation to previously published data

Operating expense 2015‑16 Estimates 2014‑15 Actual
Total operating expense previously published footnote 1 $737,006,314 $649,975,129
Government reorganization    
Transfer of functions to other ministries ($96,284,700) ($96,279,150)
Restated Total operating expense $640,721,614 $553,695,979

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

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Ministry administration $22,902,300 $22,902,300 - $24,961,446
  Total operating expense to be voted $22,902,300 $22,902,300 - $24,961,446
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 - $25,027,414

Operating assets

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
2 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

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
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 $1,654,700  
  Employee benefits $158,700  
  Transportation and communication $161,900  
  Services $201,600  
  Supplies and equipment $34,700 $2,211,600
  Business services    
  Salaries and wages $1,825,100  
  Employee benefits $207,700  
  Transportation and communication $268,500  
  Services $1,650,300  
  Supplies and equipment $535,100 $4,486,700
  Business planning and financial services    
  Salaries and wages $3,319,600  
  Employee benefits $606,000  
  Transportation and communication $49,800  
  Services $318,100  
  Supplies and equipment $28,000 $4,321,500
  Human resources    
  Salaries and wages $2,195,900  
  Employee benefits $790,800  
  Transportation and communication $27,500  
  Services $166,600  
  Supplies and equipment $29,800 $3,210,600
  Communications services    
  Salaries and wages $3,670,000  
  Employee benefits $613,600  
  Transportation and communication $105,500  
  Services $979,900  
  Supplies and equipment $79,400 $5,448,400
  Legal Services    
  Transportation and communication $22,500  
  Services $2,661,300  
  Supplies and equipment $45,000 $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

Operating assets

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
101-2 Ministry administration  
  Deposits and prepaid expenses $300,000
  Total operating assets to be voted $300,000
  Total operating assets for Ministry Administration Program $300,000

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 climate change and the environment; and non-regulatory programs in food safety, traceability, animal health and welfare, nutrient management and environment.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Better public health and environment $90,770,000 $87,070,000 $3,700,000 $76,962,148
  Total operating expense to be voted $90,770,000 $87,070,000 $3,700,000 $76,962,148
S Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act $10,000 $10,000 - $75,532
  Total statutory appropriations $10,000 $10,000 - $75,532
  Total operating expense $90,780,000 $87,080,000 $3,700,000 $77,037,680

Operating assets

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
2 Better public health and environment $12,300,000 $12,300,000 - $3,149,000
  Total operating assets to be voted $12,300,000 $12,300,000 - $3,149,000
  Total operating assets $12,300,000 $12,300,000 - $3,149,000

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
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   $15,773,800
  Supplies and equipment   $851,200
  Transfer payments    
  Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program $6,667,000  
  Agri-environmental standards research $250,000  
  Animal Health Compensation Program $1,000  
  Environment partnerships $4,420,000  
  Food safety and traceability partnerships $1,000  
  Growing forward - federal - better public health and environment $22,200,000  
  Lake simcoe agri-environmental partnerships $569,400  
  Other assistance for public health $1,215,000 $35,323,400
  Subtotal   $91,359,400
  Less: recoveries   $589,400
  Total operating expense to be voted   $90,770,000
  Statutory appropriations    
  Other transactions    
Statutory Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act   $10,000
  Total operating expense for better public health and environment   $90,780,000

Operating assets

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
107-2 Better public health and environment    
  Deposits and prepaid expenses   $300,000
  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   $12,300,000
  Total operating assets for better public health and environment   $12,300,000

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.

Vote summary

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Economic development $168,164,100 $192,419,900 ($24,255,800) $140,560,341
3 Research $81,875,300 $88,175,300 ($6,300,000) $78,027,399
4 Business risk management transfers $231,213,900 $232,113,900 ($900,000) $216,982,163
  Total operating expense to be voted $481,253,300 $512,709,100 ($31,455,800) $435,569,903
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 - $351,127
S Payments: re: guaranteed bank loans, the Financial Administration Act $1,000 $1,000 - -
S Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act $2,015,000 $2,015,000 - $187,391
  Total statutory appropriations $2,022,000 $2,022,000 - $538,518
  Total operating expense $483,275,300 $514,731,100 ($31,455,800) $436,108,421

Operating assets

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
2 Economic development $300,000 $300,000 - -
5 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

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
7 Agriculture and rural affairs capital $158,782,600 $158,799,600 ($17,000) $199,725,454
  Total capital expense to be voted $158,782,600 $158,799,600 ($17,000) $199,725,454
  Total capital expense $158,782,600 $158,799,600 ($17,000) $199,725,454

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
108-1 Economic development    
  Salaries and wages   $23,041,700
  Employee benefits   $3,353,800
  Transportation and communication   $1,785,200
  Services   $18,820,500
  Supplies and equipment   $485,100
  Transfer payments    
  Agriculture development $4,118,500  
  Food industry $34,000,000  
  Growing forward - federal - economic development $22,800,000  
  Horse Racing Industry Development Program $6,330,300  
  Ontario ethanol growth fund $35,750,000  
  Ontario wine fund $15,000,000  
  Other assistance rural $569,000  
  Rural Economic Development Program $4,535,000 $123,102,800
  Subtotal   $170,589,100
  Less: recoveries   $2,425,000
  Total operating expense to be voted   $168,164,100
  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   $417,400
  Supplies and equipment   $90,000
  Transfer payments    
  Competitive research $1,350,000  
  Food safety research $500,000  
  Grants in lieu of taxes $750,000  
  Growing forward - federal - research $6,000,000  
  Strategic partnerships $3,069,500  
  University of guelph $67,005,000 $78,674,500
  Total operating expense to be voted   $81,875,300
108-4 Business risk management transfers    
  Transfer payments    
  Agricorp $12,928,000  
  AgriInsurance $36,000,000  
  AgriInvest $23,000,000  
  AgriRecovery $1,000  
  AgriRisk Federal $1,000  
  AgriRisk Provincial $1,000  
  AgriStability $37,193,000  
  Ontario Risk Management Program $120,000,000  
  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 $231,213,900
  Total operating expense to be voted   $231,213,900
  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   $2,015,000
  Total operating expense for strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural communities   $483,275,300

Operating assets

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
108-2 Economic development    
  Deposits and prepaid expenses    
  Economic development - deposits and prepaid expenses $299,000  
  Rural community development - deposits and prepaid expenses $1,000 $300,000
  Total operating assets to be voted   $300,000
108-5 Business risk management transfers    
  Deposits and prepaid expenses    
  Business risk management - deposits and prepaid expenses, agricorp $1,000  
  Business risk management - deposits and prepaid expenses, agriInsurance $1,000  
  Business risk management - deposits and prepaid expenses, agriInvest $1,000  
  Business risk management - deposits and prepaid expenses, agriStability $1,000  
  Business risk management - deposits and prepaid expenses, other assistance for risk management $1,000 $5,000
  Total operating assets to be voted   $5,000
  Total operating assets for strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural communities   $305,000

Capital expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
108-7 Agriculture and rural affairs capital    
  Transfer payments    
  Agri-food and animal health laboratory infrastructure $500,000  
  Building canada fund - communities component $828,300  
  Building canada fund - communities component - Federal contribution $828,300  
  Green infrastructure fund $4,616,000  
  Municipal infrastructure $137,001,000  
  Research and education base building investments $3,000,000  
  Research and education infrastructure renewal $12,010,000 $158,783,600
  Less: recoveries   $1,000
  Total capital expense to be voted   $158,782,600
  Total capital expense for strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural communities   $158,782,600

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

Operating expense

Item number Item Estimates 2016‑17 Estimates 2015‑16 Difference between 2016‑17 and 2015‑16 Actual 2014‑15
1 Policy development $15,944,200 $15,944,200 - $15,522,464
  Total operating expense to be voted $15,944,200 $15,944,200 - $15,522,464
  Total operating expense $15,944,200 $15,944,200 - $15,522,464

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense

Vote-item number Standard account by item and sub-items Amount
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