Published plans and annual reports 2022–2023: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ministry overview

Ministry’s vision

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) seeks to grow a sustainable, resilient, trusted and thriving agri-food system, as well as grow rural communities through innovation and increasing trade, while safeguarding the food supply chain, and ensuring the safe and sustainable production of food.

The Ministry does this by supporting growth, economic development and innovation in the agri-food sector while maintaining animal, human, and environmental health, and strengthening the province’s productive capacity.

These activities help strengthen the agri-food sector, and rural and urban communities. They support good jobs, attract investment, help ensure food security, and contribute to Ontario’s economic success.

In support of the ministry’s vision, OMAFRA reports on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including increasing economic opportunities in the agri-food sector, supporting business innovation in Ontario and providing stewardship of Ontario’s capacity to produce food.

COVID‑19 response

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID‑19) pandemic brought forward unprecedented challenges for the agri-food sector. In response, OMAFRA created the COVID Agri-Food Secretariat to address pandemic related activities and is continuing to do everything necessary to keep Ontario’s food supply system strong, including working closely with government partners and the agri-food industry. Prevention and mitigation of the spread of COVID‑19 in agri-food workplaces is a key priority through identifying best-practices and opportunities to protect worker health and safety such as the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program. OMAFRA has continued to support the agri-food sector through the online toolkit which is updated regularly and provides information on how to conduct workplace risk assessments and tailoring actions to the changing nature of COVID‑19 through coordination, outreach, and funding supports.

The ministry established and meets regularly with the Sector Leadership Working Group, the Supply Chain Round Table, and other key partners and stakeholders to help identify issues and opportunities to address concerns proactively and collaboratively. The ministry will continue to collaborate across government along with municipal, federal, and health partners and the agri-food sector to offer support such as the Welcome Centre at Toronto Pearson International Airport, and vaccination clinics (e.g., included at the Welcome Centre in addition to agri-food workplace clinics, and GO-VAXX clinics in rural areas), isolation centres, rapid testing, HEPA air filtration units, outreach to stakeholders, and the development of COVID‑19 related, initiatives and programs.

Future preparedness plans and pandemic response include legislative amendments as part of the government’s Plan to Stay Open which received Royal Assent, as part of the broader Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Act. The Amendments to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act specify that the ministry’s mandate include leadership on a safe and stable food supply and require the ministry to regularly report on current Ontario food supply system and contingency plans in place to respond to emergency situations. The amendments made to the Ontario Food Terminal Act help ensure the Ontario Food Terminal Board (OFTB) has a contingency plan in place to be able to operate the Terminal at a temporary location for up to 30-days, during an emergency situation that may put the continuity of the Terminal’s operations at risk.

The ministry is currently developing a Food Security and Supply Chain Stability Strategy. The content of the Strategy was informed by discussions at a virtual Ontario Food Summit held in March 2022 with 160 stakeholders who play key roles at every stage of the province’s food supply chain (farmers, producers, suppliers, transporters, distributors etc.). Discussions centered around food security and options to collaborate on strategies that will help Ontario’s food supply chain remain one of the strongest, safest and stable in the world. As part of this Strategy, a Food Security and Supply Chain Fund was also approved to address urgent supply chain challenges to keep the sector and supply chain moving without severe interruption. Subject to budget approval, this program would help the sector sustain critical operations and overcome emerging threats to the food supply chain and food security, through the implementation of initiatives to support economic recovery and resiliency of the essential agriculture and food sector and the rural economy.

The continuation of the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program into 2022–23 will continue to help address worker health and safety issues as part of the agri-food sector’s prevention and control measures. Over $36 million has already been provided to help guard against COVID‑19, with an additional $10 million approved in the 2022–23 budget.

These programs are in addition to ongoing efforts to protect the health, safety, and well-being of domestic and International Agri-Food Workers including:

• Distribution of up to 5,500 free HEPA filters to improve ventilation in agri-food congregate living settings which will add an additional layer of protection to keep agri-food workers safe and reduce the risk of COVID‑19 outbreaks on farms and in workplaces across the food supply chain.
• Free rapid antigen tests (RATs) for agri-food businesses under the Provincial Antigen Screening Program (PASP) with contingency planning for surges in high-risk settings.
• Ongoing investment in greater meat inspection capacity as well as enacted contingency plans to help ensure the continued inspection of food and meat products.
• Lessons learned from the COVID‑19 response will also continue to inform the strategy development and activities to support sector recovery and resiliency with a focus on labour and supply chain resiliency.

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% of Ontario’s population. Rural Ontario businesses are diverse, including wholesale and retail trade, health care, social assistance, educational institutions, and manufacturing. The ministry offers a range of resources that support economic development, research, business risk management and other needs.

Economic development

OMAFRA provides support to Ontario’s rural communities by developing and delivering local and regional economic development programs, tools and resources.

OMAFRA also promotes vibrant rural economies through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program to help rural and Indigenous communities remove barriers to economic development, attract investment, create jobs and enhance economic growth. This supports the ministry’s KPI of increasing economic opportunities in the agri-food sector and throughout rural Ontario.

To encourage Ontarians to identify and buy locally grown food, the domestic marketing program — Foodland Ontario — helps to increase awareness, celebrate local food and encourage consumers to choose Ontario food first by encouraging Ontario producers to use the Foodland Ontario logo on Ontario fresh and processed food products.

COVID‑19 response

To help the sector during the ongoing supply chain challenges due to COVID‑19, where possible, OMAFRA has provided greater flexibility to recipients to complete their projects.

The ministry launched the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program to help local agri-food businesses enhance health and safety measures to better protect employees through initiatives like purchasing personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and redesigning workstations.

OMAFRA also created an online jobs portal to match potential workers with employers looking to fill roles in the agri-food sector.

OMAFRA’s COVID‑19 response efforts also include linking producers, processors, distributors, warehousing, retail and foodservice outlets to help improve capacity. The ministry has worked with the agri-food sector to address excessive inventory at distribution companies and has helped to develop partnerships at the processor and distribution levels to address gaps in freight and storage.

Additionally, Ontario provided further funding support through its COVID‑19 Prevention and Control Strategy, which allocated $22.5 million in cost-share funding support to farming operations and processor businesses under the Agri-Tech Innovation Program. This program focused on supporting business to adopt innovative and new technologies to reduce the risk of COVID‑19 transmission among agri-food workers.

OMAFRA also launched several initiatives focused on the mental health of farmers and their family members such as access to no-cost counselling services specific to the issues farmers and their family members face, recruitment and training of community volunteers to watch for Ontario farmers and their families showing signs of mental health struggles, and expansion of mental health literacy in the farming community.

Research

The ministry works with industry, academia, agencies, other Ontario ministries, provincial governments and the federal government to advance research and innovation that enables the growth, competitiveness and long-term sustainability of the agri-food sector and further solidifies the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food education, research and innovation.

The ministry continues to invest in agri-food research through its long-standing partnership with the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance (the Alliance).

The results are seen in many innovative projects, such as technological developments that dairy farmers have commercialized and adopted to improve herd health, support for breeding programs which improve profitability, and providing evidence to support future decisions on policy and client and agri-food sector needs. 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. This supports the ministry’s KPI to support business innovation in Ontario.

Research programs and investments through the Alliance help equip 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 and numerous projects to enhance food safety, soil health, plant and animal health, water management, bio-products development, and precision agriculture.

The ministry works with industry and other partners to focus research priorities, co-invest in research projects and infrastructure, and to encourage uptake by applying formal research into active use and technology transfer activities.

OMAFRA is implementing a strategy to modernize its research and innovation programs, services and infrastructure including investments in research facilities in Elora, Ridgetown and New Liskeard. Through partnerships with governments, industry and academia, and strategically targeted investments, the government can leverage knowledge, technology and intellectual capacity to build a sector that aligns with government and industry priorities.

Business Risk Management transfers

Through its Business Risk Management (BRM) programming, most of which are delivered through its crown agency, Agricorp, the ministry helps Ontario’s agriculture producers manage risks beyond their control, including weather and market volatility to improve sector profitability.

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

Agriculture and rural affairs capital

The ministry’s research is supported by the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) and includes research stations, labs and related agricultural infrastructure. These facilities provide research capacity to support industry-driven research while leveraging third party investments to ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the agri-food sector for decades to come. Several major capital projects are underway to modernize key research platforms supporting field crops, livestock and greenhouse/horticulture.

Better public health and environment

OMAFRA has adopted a ’One Health’ approach to designing and implementing programs, policies and regulation, working with partners to improve human, animal and environmental health.

OMAFRA provides oversight of Ontario’s agri-food system including food safety at provincially regulated facilities, animal and environmental health. The ministry is responsible for emergency management activities related to animal health, food contamination, agricultural plant diseases and pest infestations.

Ontario will continue working with the agri-food sector to find ways to help ensure the competitive production of food, such as reducing unnecessary red tape while maintaining and strengthening health and safety regulations.

This supports the ministry’s KPI for providing stewardship of Ontario’s capacity to produce food.

Ministry administration and policy

OMAFRA continues to provide high quality customer service (and efficient program delivery).

To drive success for rural Ontario, the ministry advocates for rural consideration 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 residents.

OMAFRA will continue to support the expansion of the publication of open data to Ontario’s Data Catalogue including an enhanced focus on government agency data.

In 2021, the ministry launched a Data Management Policy targeting ministry Data Management Plans to be in place by 2022. As a result, data management standards will be further strengthened and integrated into the development of future digital solutions.

2022–23 Strategic plan

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 jobs. Cutting red tape and unnecessary regulatory burden will lower operating costs for businesses and improve Ontario’s competitiveness while preserving the regulations that keep Ontarians healthy and our environment and food safe.

In the fall of 2021, the ministry completed regulatory changes at the Ontario Food Terminal by making it easier to support health and safety, strengthen the food supply chain by expanding the scope of products that can be sold, and better plan for future projects to maintain the Terminal’s long-term viability.

The ministry reduced process barriers under the Veterinarians Act in 2021, making it easier for new veterinary facilities — as well as existing facilities seeking to expand the types of services they provide — to become accredited in Ontario; the ministry also streamlined the rules governing the naming of veterinary practices and advertising, increasing choice for veterinarians. This reduced administrative burden is a benefit for many smaller, mixed veterinary practices in rural and remote locations, and encourages expansion and innovation in the services veterinarians offer.

The ministry also made amendments to the regulation under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act including updating the accreditation criteria to reduce administrative burden for the Accredited Farm Organizations (AFOs) while ensuring good governance, accountability and value to Ontario farmers. Amendments added flexibility for the AFOs and the eligible francophone organization under the Act by allowing for suspension of specified reaccreditation and special funding eligibility requirements during emergencies declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. These amendments further support the ministry’s efforts to improve the Farm Business Registration program and build on the previous amendments that reduced burden for farmers, allowed online registration and improved program administration.

Supporting domestic agricultural product and food production

A strong agri-food sector helps boost Ontario’s economy, creates good jobs and puts food on the tables of Ontarians. In 2021, Ontario’s agri-food industry contributed $47.6 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and supported over 750,000 jobs, representing 10.2% of the province’s labour force.

To support our domestic production and the ministry’s KPI of increasing economic opportunities in the agri-food sector, OMAFRA’s focus is to foster investment and job creation in Ontario. Ministry staff help food and beverage processors and bio-product manufacturers realize the potential of new international markets and drive greater foreign and domestic investment. By 2050, the world population is projected to be 9.8 billion and the demand for high-quality foods and agricultural products grown and processed in Ontario is anticipated to increase.

The ministry continues to offer the agri-food sector education, the Vendor Engagement Program, virtual business-to-business events, domestic trade show and trade and investment programming to further build awareness and demand for Ontario agri-food products.

Ontario has the people, drive and know-how to increase production without compromising the environment.

Support for rural communities

OMAFRA supports Ontario’s rural communities by developing and delivering local and regional economic development programs, tools and resources to help rural communities identify and advance initiatives to foster economic growth and prosperity. These include programs such as the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program.

Growing the agri-food sector through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP)

Equally important for Ontario’s agri-food industry success is the ministry’s work to provide support to the sector through CAP.

One way that CAP helps is through 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 committed an estimated $1.5 billion in the Ontario agri-food sector: approximately $1.1 billion for Business Risk Management funding and $417 million for strategic initiatives funding. This includes economic development, environmental stewardship, protection and assurance, with research and innovation being a focus across all areas.

In addition, the governments of Canada and Ontario are protecting the mental health of farmers and their families by investing more than $7 million dollars through CAP toward two new multi-year mental health initiatives (the Guardian Network and the Farmer Wellness Initiative) that are specialized to support those in the agriculture sector.

Ontario’s participation in CAP also forms part of the government’s efforts to grow Ontario’s agri-food sector by strengthening the connection between agri-food producers, processors and consumers.

In 2022–2023, CAP programming investments and initiatives will continue to strengthen, grow and advance Ontario’s agri-food sector. This includes funding commitments under the cost-share program streams for Farmers, Processors, and Other Agri-Businesses, and other initiatives such as Funding for Sectors, Strategic Solutions, Provincially Licensed Abattoirs, and Addressing Agri-food Sector Labour Force Challenges.

Supporting the agri-food and rural sectors through the Grassroots Growth Initiative

The Ministry’s Grassroots Growth Initiative provides support to organizations that create broader opportunities and greater benefits for the agri-food sector and rural communities. Some highlights include:

• allocated $1 million annually in funding to support provincial agri-food producer organizations with their local marketing focused projects
• a three-year Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario for up to $385,200 to administer the In the Know program and reach 5,800 individuals in the farm and agricultural sector by summer 2023 by building mental health knowledge and increase help-seeking among farmers
• a two-year TPA with ASM Innovations for up to $105,200 to develop and implement a Northern Indigenous Food Security, Production and Education project in seven remote Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario

Risk Management Program (RMP)

In 2020–21, the government permanently expanded Risk Management Program (RMP) funding from $100 million to $150 million for 2020, one year earlier than expected.

Starting in 2021, RMP now includes a fund administered by Agricorp that holds sector-specific funds allowing for more funds to be available sooner for payout, plus providing for the rollover of any funds that are not required in a given program year for future claims.

Environmental stewardship

OMAFRA’s approach to environmental stewardship is focused on supporting environmental actions that build resilience within Ontario’s agri-food sector, allowing the sector to demonstrate leadership in sustainability practices. OMAFRA works with the agri-food sector, government, researchers, municipalities and non-governmental organizations to achieve results with:

• expanded uptake of best management practices by farmers
• providing technical advice, guidance and training
• increased efficiency by leveraging resources and expertise through cooperation
• a strengthened evidence base to measure performance, target investments and demonstrate progress

These results support the ministry’s KPI for providing stewardship of Ontario’s capacity to produce food.

With 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 source at the right rate, the right time and in the right place), the ministry is continuously improving recommendations for best management practices that promote soil health and supports a sustainable agri-food sector.

The ministry will also continue implementation of the ‘New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy’ to help grow and sustain the province’s strong agri-food sector, while protecting the environment and building resilience to climate change.

The Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality entered its 50^th year in 2021, with a long-term objective of reducing phosphorus entering the Central and Western Basins of Lake Erie by 40%. To achieve these science-based targets, action is needed by all parties, including agriculture, and as a signatory of this agreement, OMAFRA will continue to work to implement the actions in the plan.

Through CAP, Ontario, with the federal government, will continue to support farmers in research, monitoring, education, tools development and increased adoption of Best Management Practices for soil health and water quality priorities.

Under CAP, the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) initiative builds on the successes of the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative. LEADS helps farmers reduce nutrient losses, particularly phosphorus, to improve soil health and protect our Great Lakes. These actions help strengthen pollinator habitats and the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

OMAFRA is supporting sustainable practices by seeking to remove barriers to innovation in areas such as nutrient management and rural drainage.

The ministry continues to address Auditor General recommendations related to the Value-for-Money on Setting Indicators and Targets, and Monitoring Ontario’s Environment. A full report-back will be done in 2022.

Economic development

The ministry enables innovation and fosters change to strengthen the social, economic and environmental sustainability of a diverse agri-food sector, including working with partners to coordinate a wide range of initiatives. This work promotes change in the agri-food sector by improving access to trusted information, fostering the adoption of new innovative technologies and best practices, and promoting regulatory compliance for business sustainability.

The ministry’s advisory services target agri-food sector areas to increase competitiveness, productivity and profitability; improve risk anticipation, mitigation and response; expand domestic and international markets and increase environmental sustainability.

The advisory services include the development, continuous improvement and dissemination of timely information and best practices; identification and validation of innovative technologies; surveillance, monitoring and mitigation of plant pest and disease threats; and ensuring access to critical tools to support business decisions (e.g. minor use program for pest management, plant disease models). These accessible services are delivered to partners through demonstrations, publications, training, mobile apps and web-based applications.

The ministry also supports the agri-food sector by providing knowledge and support to clients prior to and during emergencies to ensure food security, health and safety and protection of the plant and animal resource base. This includes prevention efforts and preparations for emergency responses to diseases such as African swine fever (ASF), avian influenza (AI) or porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED), as well as identifying and solving problems like plant diseases (e.g., vomitoxin in corn), and supporting industry and governments in developing emergency response and recovery plans.

Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC)

The FPMC is a non-board governed agency of the ministry, established to help drive the province’s regulated marketing system forward. This is done to enable prosperous, thriving, and dynamic agri-food industries within Ontario’s economy, and to promote investment confidence by:

• Administering the provisions of the Farm Products Marketing Act (FPMA) and the Milk Act (MA) and certain regulations governing regulated marketing; making regulations under these Acts governing regulated marketing; and overseeing the activities of Ontario’s 22 regulated marketing boards and three section 12 (of the FPMA) representative associations to ensure that:
  • marketing boards operate within the powers and authorities given to them
  • the lines of accountability are maintained
• fostering enhanced stakeholder collaboration to achieve whole sector solutions through Industry Advisory Committees (IACs) and by advocating for Ontario’s interests locally, nationally, and globally
• providing leadership and education in the form of advice, facilitation, and direction to Ontario’s 22 regulated marketing boards and three section 12 representative associations to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulated marketing system
• directing the development and implementation of policy or regulations related to regulated marketing in Ontario in consultation with the Minister and Ministry

Food safety and animal health

OMAFRA is dedicated to continued enhancement of food safety and animal health through inspection, education and outreach, advisory services, surveillance, emergency management and compliance verification and action. The ministry continues its work to become an effective modern regulator by working closely with farmers and processors to set clear expectations and achieve food safety and animal health and welfare requirements.

Protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians during the COVID‑19 pandemic includes protecting food workers, food safety and the food supply system. OMAFRA will continue to support a safe food supply, through food safety inspections. Efforts continue to ensure the health and safety of agri-food workers during COVID‑19.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and OMAFRA are renewing a memorandum of understanding that allows for shared inspection resources to safeguard food security and production due to resource constraints imposed by the COVID‑19 response.

Detailed financial information

Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote

Note: Agricorp Consolidation varies year over due to demand-driven programs

Ministry allocation of 2022–23 base spending

Historic trend

The ministry’s historical trends fluctuate primarily due to variability in its demand-driven programs, which make up most of its budget.

The majority of the decrease is due to the transfer of delivery responsibility of the municipal infrastructure programs to the Ministry of Infrastructure in 2020–21 resulting in a decrease in the ministry’s allocation in 2021–22 and moving forward. The expenditures in the municipal infrastructure programs in 2019-20 were over $300 million.

The ministry’s base budget remains relatively consistent:

For additional financial information, see:

• Expenditure Estimates
• Public Accounts of Ontario: past editions
• 2022 Ontario Budget

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)

Agencies of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) perform a range of functions, including delivering business risk management programs, supervising Ontario’s 22 marketing boards and three representative commodity associations, and fulfilling other regulatory, operational and advisory functions.

The ministry is responsible for the governance and oversight of 10 provincial agencies in accordance with the Agencies and Appointments Directive. The following is a list of the ministry’s agencies, boards and commissions accountable to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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 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.

To support farmers during the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Ontario and federal governments announced numerous enhancements and changes in 2020 and 2021 to existing programs that Agricorp delivers. Two new AgriRecovery programs were also announced to help cover the increased costs of feeding market-ready cattle and hogs due to COVID‑19 related processing delays. Agricorp successfully implemented all program enhancements and delivered the AgriRecovery programs.

In 2021, Agricorp also successfully delivered three new short-term initiatives to assist Northwestern Ontario livestock producers facing drought and feed shortages in Ontario.

Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational Service

Constituting instrument: Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario Act

Function: ARIO is focused on ensuring Ontario maintains its competitive advantage in agri-food research and innovation and concentrates its efforts in four ways:

1. Providing strategic advice to the Minister on agri-food and agri-products research and innovation;
2. Leading the ARIO’s Infrastructure Strategy to modernize the province’s agri-food and agri-products research and innovation physical and virtual infrastructure;
3. Promoting the Ontario agri-food research and innovation system; and
4. Providing administrative and managerial oversight of open research programs and the 14 ARIO-owned research properties with over 5,600 acres, 200+ buildings with a book value of approximately $90 million, and over 20 tenants that include government, not-for-profit, industry and private-sector organizations.

Non-Consolidated Agencies

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (AFRAAT)

Type of agency: Non Board-governed/Adjudicative

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

Function: The function of the AFRAAT is to provide a fair and impartial hearing and decision process for stakeholders 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, 1996, 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, 2001, Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, Farm Implements Act and Agricultural Employees Protection Act, 2002.

Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (NFPPB)

Type of agency: Non Board-governed/Adjudicative

Constituting instrument: Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998

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.

Both Boards collect fees, administer a compensation fund and make decisions on claims made against the funds. The fund set up under the Grain Financial Protection Program protects 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 fund set up under the Ontario Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program protects 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; AgriRecovery; and any other program to which the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Minister assigns responsibility.

Rural Economic Development Advisory Panel (REDAP)

Type of agency: Advisory

Constituting instrument: Order in Council

Function: The REDAP provides non-binding recommendations to the Minister on applications for funding under the Rural Economic Development 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 FPMC administers the Farm Products Marketing Act (FPMA), the Milk Act and certain regulations governing regulated marketing. Under these Acts, the FPMC governs regulated marketing and oversees the activities of Ontario’s 22 marketing boards and three Section 12 (of the FPMA) representative associations to ensure accountability as they operate within the powers and authorities given to them. The FPMC also fosters stakeholder collaboration to achieve whole-sector solutions, provides leadership and education to its boards and associations in the form of advice, facilitation, and direction, and directs the development and implementation of regulated marketing policy or regulations in Ontario, in consultation with the Minister and Ministry.

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 market primarily for agricultural products, and operate such facility for the distribution and handling of agricultural products.

Ministry organization chart (June 2022)

• Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Honourable Lisa Thompson
  • OMAFRA Classified Agencies
  • Parliamentary Assistant: Rob Flack
  • Parliamentary Assistant: Trevor Jones
  • Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: John Kelly
    • Chief Information Officer Land and Resources IT Cluster^{footnote 4[4]}: Rocco Passero
    • Legal Services^{footnote 5[5]}: Samir Khalil (A)
    • Communications Branch: David Spencer (A)
    • Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister: Kathy Hering (A)
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, COVID Agri-Food Secretariat: Heather Cassidy (A)
      • Director, Agri-Food Labour Management Branch: Kinney Butterfield (A)
      • Director, COVID Policy and Programs Branch: Laurie Adrien (A)
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development Division: Randy Jackiw
      • Director, Agriculture Development Branch: Colleen Fitzgerald-Hubble
      • Director, Business Development Branch: Brendan McKay
      • Director, Rural Programs Branch: Alan Crawley (A) Carolyn Hamilton
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Food Safety & Environment Division: Kelly McAslan
      • Director, Animal Health & Welfare Branch: Dr. Greg Worley
      • Director, Environmental Management Branch: Thom Hagerty
      • Director, Food Safety Inspection Delivery Branch: Tanya Weber-Kinch (A)
      • Director, Food Safety Systems Development Branch: Natasha Bartlett (A)
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Division: David Hagarty
      • Director, Economic Development Policy Branch: Scott Duff
      • Director, Farm Finance Branch: Tamara Fernandes (A)
      • Director, Farm Products Marketing Commission: Doug Reddick (A)
      • Director, Food Safety & Environmental Policy Branch: Andrea Martin
      • Director, Strategic Policy Branch: Karl Maiterth
    • Chief Administrative Officer/Assistant Deputy Minister, Research & Corporate Services Division: Greg Wootton
      • Director, Business Planning & Financial Management Branch: Jennifer Kidon
      • Director, Business Services Branch: Eric Brox (A)
      • Director, Research & Innovation Branch: Jen Liptrot
      • Director, Strategic HR Branch: Alaina Oda
      • Director, Audit Services Branch^{footnote 6[6]}: Anne Piattella (A)

Annual report

The Ontario government is committed to making Ontario’s agri-food sector and rural communities open for business, open for jobs and positioned for success now and into the future.

Ontario is reducing administrative costs while improving government services for farmers, food processors, agri-businesses and rural communities across the province.

The ministry is reducing red tape and regulatory burdens, while maintaining rules that protect food safety, the environment and plant and animal health.

Ontario also continues to invest in key programs like the Risk Management Program (RMP) and supporting rural communities as they plan for economic growth.

Ontario is building the agri-food sector’s capacity for economic growth, environmental sustainability and protecting public good by identifying emerging issues and providing solutions. OMAFRA works with the agri-food sector, and other governments, so that farmers and other agri-food businesses have the resources they need to make informed decisions about their business practices.

COVID‑19 response

The health and safety of agri-food workers, and the stability of the food supply chain, are top priorities for the ministry.

The Minister’s Jobs and Recovery Council, which included a range of agri-food stakeholders, helped assess the impacts of COVID‑19 and made recommendations on short and long-term needs and priorities as the industry recovers from the crisis.

OMAFRA acted in several key areas, including:

• establishing the COVID Agri-Food Secretariat to provide a centralized approach for COVID‑19 response programming
• collaborating with municipal, provincial, federal, health partners, and the agri-food sector to offer support such as vaccination clinics (e.g., Toronto Pearson International Airport clinic for arriving International Agri-Food Workers, agri-food workplace clinics, and GO-VAXX clinics in rural areas), isolation centres, sector outreach, rapid testing, and the development of COVID‑19 related initiatives and programs under CAP
• providing over $36 million to help address worker health and safety as part of the agri-food sector’s prevention and control measures. OMAFRA received 545 applications to the 2020/21 Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program and disbursed over $8.57 million in funding to agri-food workplaces to guard against COVID‑19.
• providing further funding support through its COVID‑19 Prevention and Control Strategy, which allocated $22.5 million in cost-share funding (including $5 million in 2021–22) support to farming operations and processor businesses under the Agri-Tech Innovation Program. This program focused on supporting businesses to adopt innovative and new technologies that could reduce the risk of COVID‑19 transmission among agri-food workers.
• approving over 2,600 agri-food businesses to participate in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program (PASP) to receive free Rapid Antigen Tests and over one million tests were distributed to the sector in 2021–22
• providing up to 5,500 HEPA air filters to improve ventilation in agri-food congregate living settings to keep agri-food workers safe and reduce the risk of COVID‑19 outbreaks on farms and in workplaces across the food supply chain
• investing in contingency plans to help ensure continued inspection of food and meat products from provincially licensed facilities
• making regulations to ensure development and enforcement of COVID‑19 protocols at the Ontario Food Terminal and providing funding to assist with enhanced screening and sanitization measures at the Terminal to help maintain maximum continuity of the food supply chain
• collaborating with Canada to expand coverage under Production Insurance for COVID‑19 related production losses for 2020, 2021 and 2022 and extend Production Insurance enrollment deadlines
• continuing to engage the Sector Leadership Working Group and further established the Supply Chain Round Table help identify issues and opportunities to proactively and collaboratively address concerns

Restoring accountability and trust

• OMAFRA is committed to delivering effective and efficient programming. In 2021–22, the ministry continued its focus on efficiency measures and controls to help manage spending, including:
  • implementing more cost-efficient ways to communicate with stakeholders, such as holding online and teleconference meetings; and
  • identifying expenses that could be put on hold, with limited impact on the ministry’s program and services delivery.

Strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors

• In 2021, Ontario’s agri-food industry contributed $47.6 billion to the provincial GDP and supported over 750,000 jobs, representing 10.2% of the province’s labour force.
• In 2021, agri-food exports rose to $19.6 billion, up 13.4% from $17.3 billion in 2020. Ontario is the top agri-food exporting Canadian province, followed by Saskatchewan.
  • In 2020, Ontario’s major export partners were the United States (80%), followed by Asia (9%) and the European Union (5%).
  • Top exports include grain products (25%), vegetables (11%), red meats (8%), sugar and confectionary (6%) and oilseeds (5%).
  • Ontario exports are dominated by value-added or consumer-oriented goods (74%), followed by minimally processed or intermediate goods (15%) with bulk goods only comprising 11% of agri-food exports in 2021.
• In 2020–21, the ministry influenced $339 million in investments and the creation/retention of 2,098 jobs by Ontario food and beverage manufacturers.
• The Ontario Food Terminal is Canada’s largest wholesale fruit and vegetable terminal plays a key role in moving imported and Ontario produce to Ontario families.
  • The ministry continues to work with the Terminal and users of the Terminal on strategic planning and enhancements to ensure its long-term sustainability, including modernization of Regulations and proclamation of changes to the Ontario Food Terminal Act.
• Through the Feeder Cattle and Commodity Loan Guarantee Programs, the government backed over $250 million in operational loans, benefiting more than 1,000 farmers across the province.
• Emergency Preparedness Planning and Response:
  • Starting in March 2020, OMAFRA worked with government ministries to respond to the COVID‑19 pandemic and activated its Incident Management System structure to respond organizationally to ensure the ministry was able to seamlessly deliver services to the public. The ministry adjusted its operations to respond to impacts on the agri-food sector.
  • Significant work was done to implement OMAFRA’s workplace reintegration plans to assist with the safe and streamlined return of staff to the physical workspace, once instructed to do so.
  • Animal diseases can have a significant negative impact on Ontario’s agri-food industry. One example is African swine fever, which has not been detected in continental North America but has devastated the pork industry in Asia and other parts of the world. The ministry continued working closely with other government partners and industry on enhancing biosecurity to prevent the disease, while ensuring that should the disease be found here, producers, processors and government partners are prepared.
• The governments of Canada and Ontario provide cost-share funding under CAP to processors and other businesses in key priority areas, economic development and protection and assurance.
  • In 2021–22, more than $10 million in funding was committed towards over 180 projects through the CAP processor and other business programming.
  • In 2021–22 more than $10.2 million in funding was committed towards over 640 projects in the OSCIA-delivered CAP producer and other business intake.
• OMAFRA supports agriculture and the agri-food value chain in the Northern Ontario through various advisory service, technical transfer, programs and initiatives.
  • OMAFRA partners with the Ministry of Energy (Energy), Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) to deliver economic development programs, tools, and resources to rural municipalities and organizations in Northern Ontario.
  • Northern Advisory Services are focusing efforts to grow the aquaculture, maple, horticulture, livestock, local food and field crops sectors in collaboration with OMAFRA/NDMNRF.
  • Northern Advisors work with communities to support the development of Food Hubs in the North, including Iroquois Falls, Timmins and Val Rita-Harty.
  • The Northeast Community Network was approved in May 2021, for a project entitled “Ontario Great Claybelt Agriculture Strategy and Implementation Plan”, which may direct up to $319,812.50 to develop a regional strategy, recommendations and implementation plan aimed at encouraging capital investment to help expand large-scale agricultural production in the region. The project is in progress.
  • Northern staff are working with and consulting Indigenous community partners on development of aquaculture projects, training, education and expansion of infrastructure to remote communities.
  • Thunder Bay CEDC has led two recent information sessions with Fort William First Nation on Aquaculture project potential.
  • Aquaculture included in Food Sovereignty in the North Webinar Series 2022–2023. OMAFRA provided $88,800 in Rural Economic Development funding to the Northeast Community Network to identify private land suitable for livestock production in Cochrane district, supporting agriculture in the North.

Cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burden

• Ontario has targeted unduly costly and burdensome regulations to help businesses grow while maintaining its standards to keep Ontarians safe and healthy, such as:
  • Regulatory amendments under the Veterinarians Act to implement a new streamlined model for how veterinary facilities are accredited.
  • Completion of multi-phased regulatory amendments under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act to add flexibility; improve program administration; add online delivery; and reduce burden.
  • Regulatory improvements under the Ontario Food Terminal Act to expand what can be sold at the Terminal.
  • Amended regulations under the Milk Act to be reflective of new technologies, practices and products to help reduce burden for existing, new and expanding dairy processors and small foodservice and retail operations while maintaining high food safety standards.
• Ontario completed regulatory amendments under the Nutrient Management Act that supported on-farm anaerobic digestion systems for electricity and Renewable Natural Gas generation, resulting in improved access for farmers to low carbon fuel markets and diversion of food waste from landfill. The amendments also removed the automatic five-year expiry of agricultural operation planning certificates, maintaining environmental protections while saving the agriculture sector time and money.
• The ministry coordinated with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT) on the development of their Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, 2020 requirements, including amendments to remove the automatic five-year cessation associated with an Agricultural Operation Planning Certificate for farmers who prepare their own Nutrient Management Strategy or Nutrient Management Plan.
• Changes were made to the Drainage Act to streamline the process for improving existing municipal drains to increase climate resilience while providing economic and environmental benefits to rural communities, including increased crop productivity, reduced soil erosion and flood control.
• A new regulation was created to provide a streamlined process for approval of low-risk activities, such as minor drain improvements and recording variances from the engineer’s report when building drains. The Minister now has authority for the development and adoption of protocols that support alignment of best practices across ministries and agencies.
• Under its Licensing Modernization Initiative, the ministry partnered with the Lands and Resources Cluster (LRC), Ministry of Government and Consumer services (MGCS) and the Ontario Lean Office to develop a licensing portal (launched in March 2022) that uses a lean, user-focused, digital approach for those who require licenses under OMAFRA legislation.

Supporting local food

• Buying and supporting local food creates jobs and economic growth in communities across Ontario. Examples include:
  • Foodland Ontario continues to encourage people to choose Ontario foods first and continues to enjoy almost 90% recognition by consumers that fosters strong public trust. The program’s key performance measures include:
    • Almost 1,800 businesses and organizations utilize the logo on their packaging or labels resulting in hundreds of millions of consumer impressions per month in the domestic market helping consumers to identify and purchase Ontario foods when shopping.
    • The program’s most recent Seasonal Food Advertising campaign surpassed past campaign benchmarks, achieving over 155 million consumer impressions across social, digital, radio and print channels. For social media alone, the program achieved 7.9 million consumer impressions with over 30,000 engagements, ensuring the program continues to be an OPS leader.
    • The program’s public relations activities continue to provide resources, such as recipe releases, to over 450 food media outlets in Ontario that resulted in television and print media stories returning an estimated value of $11 million in earned media (free advertising).
  • The program’s retail services’ activities included 9,800 store visits and the distribution of over three million pieces of point-of-sale signage to grocery stores.
  • The Ontario government continues to support the growth and success of the province’s wine and grape industry.
    • Under the VQA Wine Support Program, 99 wineries received payments totaling $7.5 million in 2021. In 2021–22, the government also provided $3.8 million to 70 Ontario cideries and 34 distilleries under the Small Cidery and Small Distillery Program.
    • Under the Winery Agri-Tourism COVID‑19 Relief Initiative, up to $10 million was committed to support agri-tourism businesses impacted by the COVID‑19 pandemic. Ontario wineries and cideries with on-site stores whose businesses were impacted by COVID‑19 safety measures to stop the spread of the virus were eligible for this one-time grant.
    • As part of the 2022 Provincial Budget, a 2-year extension for the following programs was announced: $10M for the VQA Wine Support Program (increased from $7.5M), $4.8M for marketing paid to the Wine Marketing Association of Ontario, and $250,000 each for benchmarking and research; $3M for small cidery support and $2.3M for small distillery support under the Small Cidery and Small Distillery Program. Additionally, the budget included a second year of the Winery Agri-Tourism COVID Relief Initiative ($10M).
  • To support the growth and development of the maple sector, the Ontario Maple Syrup Producer’s Association received Grassroots Growth Initiative funding to complete a sector development strategy. They continue to work with advisory staff on KTT projects to support producers, including a virtual First Nations Maple Syrup workshop in partnership with the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario (IAPO) and Whitefish Nation with over 100 participants.

Supporting Ontario’s agri-food value chain

• The ministry held over 20 trade events, including Virtual Profit, virtual buyer meetings, market webinars and virtual trade shows with over $44 million of investment secured.
• On March 1, 2022, OMAFRA hosted the Ontario Food Summit with over 160 agri-food stakeholders from across the food supply chain to discuss food security and to collaborate on strategies that will help Ontario’s food supply chain remain one of the strongest, safest and most stable in the world. Discussions addressed strategies to strengthen and make the food supply chain more resilient, boost the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, and create jobs and economic growth across Ontario, by improving programs, services and supports across the supply chain, and retaining and attracting workers.
• The ministry’s Vendor Engagement Program (VE) continues to offer complete education, business to business and domestic trade show programming to further the consumption of locally manufactured Ontario food and beverage products and to leverage investment.
• The VE local sourcing program is currently generating approximately $1 million in new incremental sales weekly for Ontario and continues to grow in reach and dollars.
• Total of six sourcing events were conducted since March of 2021 and all delivered virtually during the pandemic amongst the 132 participating Ontario food and beverage processors.
• Small and medium scale producers were trained to develop and market value-added food and beverage products to consumers through the Selling Food in Ontario program.
• The Farm Products Marketing Commission (FPMC) approved 11 regulation amendments to support the evolution of the province’s regulated commodity sectors addressing key issues for dairy, grains and tobacco. The FPMC brought into legal force 31 negotiated agreements and three arbitrated awards. It also approved 25 processor licences and made 16 appointments to various IACs, arbitration panels and local boards.
• The Northern Policy Institute was approved under CAP Funding for Sectors to expand ConnectON to Northern Ontario. This agri-food asset mapping too is now live and allows users to identify gaps and opportunities in the agri-food and manufacturing supply chain.

Research

• The Ontario Agri-food Innovation Alliance continues to support the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s agri-food sector, creating jobs and further solidifying the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food education, research and innovation.
• Ontario continues to invest in the renewal and modernization of the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) owned research stations. The ARIO is a provincial agency accountable to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with a mandate to promote agri-food research in the province and maintain ownership and oversight of research lands and facilities across 14 research stations spread across all regions of the province.
• Research continues in Northern Ontario to support the growth of agriculture as an economic development opportunity. To maintain a healthy and sustainable food and agricultural product supply, it is necessary to continue critical surveillance, monitoring, research and knowledge transfer for the agri-food industry.
  • The critical work OMAFRA specialists perform helps to determine how and when control measures should be implemented, or provide an early warning of new threats.
  • The agriculture industry relies heavily on the advice of OMAFRA specialists who contribute important research and input into the development of best management practices for crop and livestock production.
  • OMAFRA specialists work in collaboration with partners to ascertain industry concerns and opportunities, inform needs (e.g. research gaps, policy analysis, knowledge transfer, risk mitigation) and develop solutions that align with government priorities.

Farm finance

• OMAFRA has been working with the agri-food sector, and other partners, so that Ontario’s farmers have the tools they need to effectively manage their risks and grow their businesses. The ministry:
  • Permanently expanded RMP funding from $100 million to $150 million in 2020/21, one year earlier than expected;
  • Worked with industry to transition RMP to a more sustainable program. Starting in 2021, RMP now includes a fund administered by Agricorp that holds sector-specific funds allowing more funds to be available sooner for payout, in addition to providing for the rollover of any funds not required in a program year for future claims.
  • Continues to work with federal and provincial colleagues to drive recommendations for improvements to the national suite of business risk management programs, resulting in the removal of the reference margin limit requirement of the AgriStability program while consideration of other improvements continues.
    • Further, under AgriStability, Ontario made the decision to provide the provincial portion of the compensation rate increase from 70 to 80% and continues to advocate for the federal government to provide their share.
  • Supported farmers facing drought conditions in summer 2021 in Northwestern Ontario by committing up to $5 million in provincial funding to assist with emergency measures. Support included:
    • The Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative to help address urgent needs identified by area farmers. More than $1 million was provided to the Beef Farmers of Ontario to help deal with the immediate feed shortages for impacted farmers in the region.
    • Cost shared funding was also made available for emergency measures to source water for livestock and to purchase and install new fencing to allow livestock to safely graze in alternative locations.
    • The Canada-Ontario Transported Feed AgriRecovery Initiative supported livestock farmers affected by increased feed costs caused by the drought.
    • The Northwestern Ontario Drought Assistance Initiative provided cost share funding for expenses for area farmers to install new wells or ponds to help mitigate drought conditions.
  • Expanded coverage under Production Insurance for COVID‑19 related production losses for 2020, 2021 and 2022, and extended Production Insurance enrollment deadlines for 2020, 2021 and 2022; increased AgriStability interim payments from 50 to 75 percent for the 2021 program year for farmers producing ginseng, grapes, and those affected by dry weather in Northwestern Ontario
  • Recognizing the scope of the risk presented by African swine fever for Ontario hog producers and the agri-food sector, the ministry is working with industry, the federal government and other provinces to be ready to respond should the virus be confirmed in Canada.
  • Collaborated with the ginseng sector to develop the Ginseng Storage Loan Guarantee Pilot Program. This three-year pilot program will provide up to $130 million for the ginseng sector in loans to enable growers the option to store their crop for up to three years and avoid selling during a depressed market. Individual growers can borrow against up to $1 million of their ginseng inventory. This new loan guarantee program became available on April 1, 2022.
  • Completed extensive consultations with beef sector stakeholders and commercial lending institutions to inform a review of the Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program. This resulted in a number of program changes including:
    • Introducing Minister emergency declaration provisions, allowing Co-operatives and lenders to negotiate loan extensions in emergencies;
    • Increasing maximum individual and corporation purchase order loan maximums to $1 million and $1.5 million, respectively; and
    • Empowering Co-operatives and lenders to negotiate the maximum number of purchase orders that any member may have at one time.

Supporting Ontario’s land use planning system

• OMAFRA works with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and partner ministries to support the implementation of Ontario’s land use planning system, including providing technical advice on agricultural land use policies.
• OMAFRA has delivered training on agricultural land use policies to municipal staff, economic development officials, building officials, consultants, and planners including training on:
  • Minimum Distance Separation Formulae (500 participants);
  • Agricultural System and the Agricultural System Portal (350 participants);
  • and Agricultural Impact Assessments (150 participants).
• OMAFRA staff provided outreach and education to nearly 1,000 participants on a variety of agricultural land use planning topics including on-farm permitted uses and farmland protection.

Agricultural system and growth plan

• OMAFRA developed the innovative Agricultural System approach for the Greater Golden Horseshoe as set out in four provincial plans: A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and Niagara Escarpment Plan.
• OMAFRA worked with MMAH to update the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 to maintain and strengthen policies to protect farmland and support the viability of farming. For example, new policies encourage municipalities to take an agricultural systems approach to protect farmland and support a thriving agri-food sector.
• The Agricultural System supports the long-term viability of the agri-food sector and helps protect farmland across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
• OMAFRA is working with municipalities to implement the Agricultural System and has developed tools to support the implementation of the Agricultural System including: an Agricultural Land Base Map, an online Agricultural System Map Portal and Implementation Procedures.
• For the Growth Plan area, OMAFRA worked with Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) to develop and consult on changes to “A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe”. OMAFRA has released updated Agricultural System Implementation Procedures and is working with municipalities in the Growth Plan area to implement the Agricultural System.
• The Agricultural System Portal has been enhanced to include more than 90 mapping layers depicting the agri-food supply chain across Ontario and to incorporate statistical data. The portal is used to support economic development strategies, attract and locate agri-food businesses, complete Agricultural Impact Assessments, and inform municipal councils and others on the significance of the agri-food sector to the local economy.
• OMAFRA provided technical advice about the agri-food sector from a land use planning perspective, including Geographic Information System (GIS) and mapping support for partner ministries:
• Highway 413 and Bradford Bypass Proposed New Highway Corridors: OMAFRA is working collaboratively with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) on the Environmental Assessment process which is underway and ensuring potential impacts to farmland are minimized.
• OMAFRA provided technical support (e.g., mapping support, data sharing) to MEDJCT to help attract new investments related to the open for business, open for jobs strategies.
• OMAFRA provided technical support for MMAH’s More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan to help deliver on key government priorities related to growth and density targets, development costs, and updates to the population projection methodology.
• OMAFRA collaborated with NDMNRF to finalize new provincial standards to support a streamlined approach for reviewing new aggregate operations applications.

Environmental stewardship

• Ontario’s agri-food sector has continued to show leadership in environmental stewardship.
• The ministry continued working with the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario on follow-up to their 2020 report on environmental reporting and the operation of the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR). The ministry has updated EBR templates and training for staff to support documentation and timely reporting on consideration of OMAFRA’s Statement of Environmental Values. The ministry appreciates the auditor’s findings and will continue to work on implementation.
• OMAFRA supported sector efforts by investing in stewardship programs, supporting science and performance measurement to inform industry action, and reducing red tape for farmers and food processors.
• Through CAP, approximately $5.86 million in cost-shared funding was committed to support farmers:
  • implementing more than 570 on-farm best management practices in 2021–2022 that reduce phosphorus loadings in the Lake Erie basin; and
  • practices across Ontario that support soil health and improve water quality.
• Further investments were made through environmental stewardship directed programming; funding projects that are building awareness and capacity in the sector to:
  • adopt stewardship practices (e.g., ONFARM applied research and demonstration sites across the province), and
  • support farmers with on-the-ground action and tools (e.g., AgriSuite, a mobile-friendly software application to support on-farm decision making).
• The LEADS initiative, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, continued to 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 act to reduce the risk of on-farm nutrient loss.
• A comprehensive review of the LEADS initiative resulted in several client-focused enhancements, increased budget allocation, extended program outreach and accelerated program outcomes for its final intake.
• Since 2018, more than 1,200 projects have been approved under the LEADS initiative, with approximately $8.9 million in cost-share funding paid out under CAP to support completion of more than 920 on-farm improvement projects (to March 2022). An additional 300 projects are in progress, to be completed in 2022–2023.
• Soil drainage is vital for an effective and competitive agricultural industry and rural Ontario. Over $100 million annually is privately invested in drainage, linked to over 100 independent businesses.
• Over the last year, the ministry continued to issue licences, inspect new machines, operators and businesses to ensure licensing conditions were met; and inspect and mediate complaints about installation workmanship.
• Courses in drainage installation and design continued to be offered in support of the licensing system and were modified so they could continue virtually as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
• OMAFRA has supported implementation of the Made-in-Ontario Environmental Plan, through support for on-farm soil and water quality programming and working with partners to improve agricultural management practices. This included support for programs and partnerships intended to make the agri-food sector more resilient to current and future climate impacts.
• The ministry continued to work with sector partners on implementation of the New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy to help grow and sustain the agri-food sector while protecting the environment and building resilience to climate change.
  • The Soil Action Group (SAG), a stakeholder collaboration co-chaired by OMAFRA and industry, is focused on implementing the strategy with an initial focus on high priority actions. The SAG continues to meet to prioritize actions for the next few years.
• The ministry continues its soil mapping initiative that contributes to understanding how soil properties can inform land management. New data collected by the soil mapping pilot will help farmers adjust their soil management practices.
• OMAFRA was a signatory to the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA) — the 50th anniversary of the signing of the first agreement in 1971.
• Provincial Great Lakes funding was confirmed for OMAFRA’s stewardship commitments under the COA and Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (annually $1.1 million and $520K, respectfully).
• OMAFRA staff worked with key delivery partners to develop projects, resulting in 14 agreements.
  • The projects support science, on-the-ground action and measure progress toward agricultural stewardship for improved water quality, soil health and resilience to a changing climate.
  • Activities include promoting action in the agricultural sector towards phosphorus load reduction, building soil health, water conservation, climate resilience, and the reduction of harmful pollutants.
• Work continued on implementation of the Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan, which outlines Canada’s and Ontario’s proposed actions to meet commitments under the COA.
  • Of 128 actions in the Plan, 25 are directly related to agriculture. OMAFRA has the lead for 19 of those actions, and six actions are being led by the agri-food sector.
• OMAFRA negotiated a new, three-year, 4Rs Memorandum of Cooperation with industry partners to enhance outcomes for climate change mitigation interests and broader sector uptake of best practices.
• OMAFRA continued support for additional industry-led actions such as 4R Ontario Greenhouse Environmental Strategy, Ontario Cover Crops Strategy, Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative and Timing Matters.
• The ministry has a KPI to report on the level of adoption of environmentally beneficial practices. In particular, the percentage of Ontario’s farms reporting winter cover crop use as reported in the Agricultural Census of Canada:
  • In 2021, Ontario farmers reported use of cover crops at 27% (12,902 of 48,346 farms reporting in Ontario), representing a slight increase from 2016.

Protecting food safety and animal health

• Food safety and animal protection are priorities for Ontario.
• OMAFRA worked with food safety partners at the provincial and federal level to continue response to the 2019 Ontario Auditor General’s Value for Money Audit on Food Safety Inspection Programs.
  • That audit concluded that overall, efficient systems and procedures are in place to keep the Ontario food supply safe.
  • The ministry has been working to address the audit’s recommendations and provide regular updates to the Auditor General on progress.
  • The ministry presented on the audit’s findings at the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. Their report was received in February 2021, with the ministry’s response provided in June 2021.
• Over the last year, OMAFRA provided inspection services to:
  • Approximately 116 provincially licensed slaughter plants. Inspectors are present in provincially licensed abattoirs to ensure food safety and animal welfare regulatory requirements are met.
  • Approximately 366 provincially licensed freestanding plants. Inspectors are present to ensure food safety requirements are met.
  • Approximately 50 provincially licensed dairy plants. Inspectors conduct comprehensive annual inspections and conduct finished product and environmental testing and sampling to ensure compliance with standards.
    • Approximately 29 provincially licensed fish processing plants. Inspectors are present to ensure food safety requirements are met.
  • Over 223 on-farm dairy goat milk operations. Producers received an annual inspection as well as on-going and follow-up inspections to ensure regulatory compliance with the Milk Act.
  • In addition to inspection services, the ministry completed sampling to support the Foods of Plant Origin regulation and monitoring program, which includes sampling, regulatory inspections and assessment of microbiological and chemical risks in produce, honey and maple products produced and distributed in Ontario.
    • In 2021–22, OMAFRA conducted 217 Foods of Plant Origin related inspections^{footnote 7[7]} and collected 1160 samples and swabs for testing in produce, honey and maple products produced and distributed in Ontario. In the event of an adverse food safety test result, immediate action is taken to ensure that consumers are protected, and issues are addressed and prevents from reoccurring.
• OMAFRA’s Meat Inspection Program:
  • Maintained inspection services at all provincial plants despite COVID‑19 impacts, through use of contingency inspectors.
  • Through a resource-sharing agreement with the CFIA, several federal inspectors covered shifts in provincially licensed meat plants to support OMAFRA’s contingency plan during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
  • Worked with provincially licensed plants to maintain worker health during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
  • Continued to work with operators to improve hygienic slaughter and reduce the pathogen levels on beef and veal carcasses. New sampling programs were implemented to assist operators in their pathogen level monitoring.
    • In 2021–22, OMAFRA collected 1095 carcass swabs to monitor for the presence of pathogenic E.coli in beef and veal. In the event of an adverse food safety test result, immediate action is taken to ensure that consumers are protected, and issues are addressed and prevents from reoccurring.
  • Continued to work with meat plant operators, the Muslim Association of Canada, and Islamic Society of North America to raise awareness of and compliance with provincial regulations for Eid-al-Adha at licensed meat plants across Ontario, by using communication materials to protect animal welfare and food safety.
  • Continued meetings of the Meat Industry Engagement Panel with Meat and Poultry Ontario to provide a forum for industry representatives to engage with the ministry to share ideas and collaborate on ways to address industry challenges.
• OMAFRA’s veterinarians supported livestock and poultry industries through continued surveillance of, and response to, animal diseases such as infectious laryngotracheitis in chickens, equine herpes virus in horses and bovine anaplasmosis in cattle. While these do not generally have food safety or human health impacts, they can be devastating to industry, and OMAFRA’s support in providing education and advisory services is critical.
• The ministry continued to work closely with industry and government partners on preparedness for ASF, a swine disease that — should it arrive in Canada — could have a significant negative impact on Ontario’s swine industry.
• Managed honeybees play a crucial role in Ontario agriculture through pollinating crops. OMAFRA works with beekeepers to maintain the viability of the sector through education and outreach, an inspection program, and monitoring for pathogens and pests.
  • Through CAP, over $1.8 million has been allocated since 2019, through two separate intakes, to help support and strengthen the health of managed honey bees and Ontario’s beekeeping sector.
  • Over $550,000 was invested in the first intake.
  • The budget of the second Targeted Intake to Support Managed Bee Health has been increased three times and the total allocation is now $1.5 million.
• A new regulation was made under the Animal Health Act, 2009 to enhance Ontario’s preparedness for an animal health related emergency. In the event of restrictions in animal movements across borders, this new regulation will help the province respond to any animal health issues that arise from those restrictions to a surplus of livestock or poultry.
• Amendments to Regulation Reg 761: Milk and Milk Products under the Milk Act allowing the use of vertical bulk tanks (VBTs) to store milk on Ontario dairy farms were filed and came into force on December 22, 2021.
  • These amendments align with Ontario’s Open for Business initiative, providing producers with greater flexibility for on-farm milk storage, while maintaining Ontario’s stringent food safety and quality requirements.
• Amendments to Regulation 761 as well as Regulation 753: Grades, Standards, Designations, Classes, Packing and Marking were filed and came into force on February 9, 2022.
  • These amendments provide burden reduction and cost savings for existing and future dairy processors while maintaining strong food safety and quality standards for milk and milk products.

Plant health

• Plant health is a complex issue, which requires OMAFRA to work collaboratively with other levels of government, industry and academia in prevention, monitoring and mitigation of plant pest threats. Through this collaboration there has been a focus on biosecurity, emergency management and surveillance. As a result, the ministry has engaged in the following activities:
  • Surveillance and monitoring of economically damaging pests impacting plant health; for example, pepper weevil, corn rootworm, vomitoxin and neopestalotiopsis;
  • Investing in information technologies/digital tools that standardize data collection and reporting to ensure producers have timely information to manage pest threats during the growing season.
  • Working collaboratively with industry and researchers in developing and communicating integrated pest management strategies to address new, emerging and endemic threats to plant health.
  • Advancing the sector’s preparedness, coordination and ability to respond to plant health emergencies through CAP which supports projects and new technologies that aim to prevent and mitigate plant pests.

Strong rural communities

• OMAFRA provides support to Ontario’s rural communities by developing and delivering local and regional economic development programs, tools and resources, including the updated Regional Economic Analysis Resources, Business Retention and Expansion, First Impressions Community Exchange, Community Immigrant Retention in Rural Ontario, Downtown Revitalization, and Regional Advisory Services. These resources support rural communities by helping them identify and advance initiatives that will foster economic growth and prosperity.
• The Rural Economic Development program provides cost-share funding to rural communities, Indigenous communities and organizations, regions and not-for-profit organizations. The 2021–22 fiscal year had two intakes for this program; 61 projects were approved in late January 2022 (total commitment over $3.8 million), and the second intake for the fiscal year closed March 7, 2022. Applications are under review.
• As of February 2022, OMAFRA has increased the administrative allowance paid to municipalities through the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) in response to municipal stakeholder feedback. The increase in allowance will support municipalities in offsetting costs incurred through the administration of the program.
• In partnership with Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), OMAFRA delivered economic development training to over 850 municipal councillors and economic development volunteers in 2021 and 2022 to support economic recovery in Ontario’s rural and small communities through a series of summits.
  • Anishinabek Nation transfer payment agreement 2021–2024 ($550,000/3 years) for the development and implementation of an agri-food economic development strategy for 39 First Nation Communities.
  • ASM Innovations Northern Remote Food Security Education ($110,000/18 months) to build long-term food infrastructure and agricultural skills development in remote Northwestern First Nation communities.
  • Keepers of the Circle (KoC) received $150,000 in the last RED targeted intake to diversify regional economies in Northern Ontario and strengthen capacity for Indigenous Peoples to build careers within the community support services sector.
  • On January 19, 2022, OMAFRA announced an investment of up to $4 million through CAP to help give farmers improved access to veterinary services. The Livestock Veterinary Innovation Initiative increases the access options for veterinary care, especially in rural and northern Ontario.

Ministry administration and policy

• OMAFRA continued to support the development of the Ontario Onwards Action Plan by participating in cross-ministry consultations on the Ontario Digital and Data Strategy, and publishing data to Ontario’s open data catalogue.
• In 2021, the ministry’s launched a Data Management Policy targeting ministry Data Management Plans to be in place by 2022. As a result, data management standards will be further strengthened and integrated into the development of future digital solutions.
• The ministry’s Information Management and Information Technology (IM&IT) strategy was refreshed and launched in 2021 as Digital OMAFRA 2.0. Updating Digital OMAFRA priorities was important to ensure the strategy continued to reflect the digital transformation that is happening across the ministry, in the Ontario Public Service, and with the stakeholders we serve.
• Since the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the demand for easy to access government services increased. The ministry continued to move quickly to modernize and increase digital accessible programs and services our stakeholders rely on.
• The ministry continued to transition to full delivery 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. The transition was targeted for completion by April 1, 2022.
• The ministry improved the Farm Business Registration program including completion of implementation of the new online portal for farm businesses to complete their annual registration. The ministry made regulatory amendments to update the accreditation criteria for the AFOs that reduced administrative burden while ensuring good governance, accountability and value to Ontario farmers. As part of the regulatory amendments, flexibility was also introduced to allow for suspension of specified reaccreditation and special funding requirements during emergencies declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
• The FPMC completed a new Memorandum of Understanding between the FPMC Chair and the Minister, and updated reporting and business planning requirements. The FPMC also completed a comprehensive strategic planning exercise that was further acknowledged by the Minister.

Strategic policy

• In the fall of 2021, the ministry hosted Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture leaders in Guelph for the 2021 Annual Conference of Agriculture Ministers. As provincial co-chair, the ministry demonstrated leadership in the development of the Guelph Statement, a shared vision for the next agricultural policy framework that positions the agri-food sector for continued success as world leaders in sustainable agriculture, enhanced productivity and innovation, and will enable a globally competitive sector.
• The ministry led a virtual delegation to the Annual Tri-National Agriculture Accord, which gathered more than 40 subnational government representatives from Canada, the United States and Mexico to focus on expanding agricultural trade among countries and leveraging relationships to improve the competitiveness of North American agriculture in the global marketplace. To prepare for a potential African swine fever event, Ontario co-chaired a session on enhancing communication and coordination among state and provincial officials.