For release: December 30, 2005
Ontario Government Building Strong Rural Communities
Farmers And Other Businesses Benefit From Provincial Support
TORONTO - The McGuinty government has worked with the province's agri-food
industry and rural communities during 2005 to build a more solid foundation
for the future, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister
Leona Dombrowsky announced today.
"We remain committed to strong rural communities, as well as to the
farmers, food manufacturers and many other businesses they support and
depend on," Dombrowsky said. "By working with our partners, we have provided
short-term support where and when it was needed, and moved forward in
new, innovative directions for the long term."
"In this year alone our government has provided $23.7 million for nutrient
management, $50 million directly to tobacco producers and tobacco-growing
communities and $174 million to grain and oilseed producers," Dombrowsky
added.
"The province has invested close to $175 million in our rural communities,
to help improve their bridges, roads, solid waste management facilities,
water and wastewater treatment facilities, as well as revitalize their
economies, enhance local skills and increase access to health care services.
Our investment has leveraged more than $160 million in federal funding
as well," she said. "Our comprehensive rural plan is working - building
strong communities, a strong economy and a healthy environment in rural
Ontario."
"I look forward to the second Premier's Summit on Agri-Food in the new
year, where we will discuss with stakeholders ways to take advantage of
new trends and technologies for the betterment of the industry, rural
communities, and the province," Dombrowsky said.
- 30 -
Contact:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
(416) 326-3072
(416) 554-1058 (cell)
BACKGROUNDER:
A YEAR IN REVIEW FOR THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
AND THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR
The past year was a busy and productive one for Ontario government initiatives
aimed at encouraging the agri-food sector, which pumps $30 billion into
the provincial economy, employs 650,000 people and ships $8.4 billion
in exports annually. Among the 2005 achievements are:
Healthy Environment
- Investing $520 million over 12 years to boost ethanol production in
Ontario. This is part of the government commitment to the Renewable
Fuels Standard, requiring an average of five per cent ethanol in all
gasoline sold in Ontario by January 1, 2007.
- Implemented with the federal government and the Ontario Soil and Crop
Improvement Association two initiatives (Greencover Canada and Water
Supply Expansion) worth $20 million to help farm and agribusiness operators
care for the health of the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Introduced nutrient management improvements to ensure that requirements
to protect the environment do not place an unbearable burden on farmers,
nor compromise our commitment to safe, clean drinking water:
- Established a Nutrient Management Standards Science Committee;
- Committed to funding research through the nutrient management
joint research program; and,
- Proposing to prescribe the Nutrient Management Act under the Environmental
Bill of Rights.
- Invested an additional $3.7 million under the Nutrient Management
Financial Assistance Program to help farmers make environmental improvements
on their operations and meet the requirements of the Nutrient Management
Act. Brings the total to $23.7 million allocated under the program.
Strong People, Strong Communities
- Invested $1 million through ReNew Ontario, a five-year, $30 billion
infrastructure investment plan, to complete the Rudy H. Brown Rural
Development Centre at Ridgetown College. This funding is in addition
to the province's allocation of $2.5 million in 2004. When completed,
the centre will include classrooms, a lecture theatre, office and administration
space to accommodate Ridgetown College's increasing enrollment while
newly created community space will be used to host local events. This
funding complements the efforts of the Ridgetown College Agri-Food Foundation,
which has raised half of the total funding needed for this project.
- Invested a total of $24 million over five years in projects including:
infrastructure improvements at Ridgetown College's new Rural Development
Centre; health and safety upgrades to the Food Quality and Safety Laboratory,
and improvements to Ontario's three agricultural colleges and 14 research
stations.
- Preserving the province's valuable agricultural heritage by taking
action to transfer ownership of Country Heritage Park, in Milton, to
Country Heritage Experiences Inc. A total of $750,000 will go towards
support of the park and a further $143,000 will be provided to help
maintain and preserve the collections if the transfer is completed.
- Renewed agreement with 4-H Ontario by providing $2.1 million over
three years to enable the organization to continue its important work
in developing skills in rural youth.
- Helped more than 4,000 young people find summer jobs in rural Ontario
to enhance their skills and gain valuable experience.
- Better protection for agricultural workers by extending Occupational
Health and Safety Act (OHSA) coverage to farming operations. The regulation
is to take effect June, 2006.
- Revisions to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) to reflect advice
provided to the government by the Agricultural Advisory Team (AAT) to
ensure Ontario's land use policies protect agricultural lands and support
farming activities.
- A $50 million transition fund was provided to assist tobacco growers
wishing to exit the industry, and encourage economic diversification
and innovation in their communities.
Food Safety
- Introduced stronger standards for meat safety in Ontario, as recommended
by Justice Haines' review of the province's meat regulation and inspection
system. The new regulation, among other things, requires: licensing
and inspection of freestanding meat processors; strengthened process
controls at meat processing facilities; and training for food handlers.
- Created the Office of the Chief Veterinarian of Ontario and consolidated
responsibility for food safety in one division in OMAFRA. This office
responds to a key recommendation in the Haines Report, protects public
health and encourages greater competitiveness in the agrifood sector.
Competitiveness and Economic Support
- Continued support to the Ontario Cattlemen's Association by providing
$4 million in further funding to maintain deadstock collection, in addition
to $1.3 million the previous year. In addition, $800,000 was provided
for three projects to increase slaughter capacity in the province, which
was part of $7 million earmarked for this purpose.
- An additional $79 million was provided to assist grain and oilseed
producers.
- Provided $6 million under the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure
Program to farmers and municipalities for drainage construction, improvement
and maintenance.
- Exempted farmers from an administrative fee for permits to take water
applications.
- New, more equitable tax assessment criteria for equestrian properties
to ensure that farms on which horses are bred, raised, maintained and
cared for are treated consistently with other types of farm activities.
- Simplified the process for farmers to claim their retail sales tax
exemption when buying eligible farm-related goods, services and insurance
for their businesses. Effective April 1, 2005, farmers could use their
general farm organization identification cards to obtain pointof- sale
retail sales tax exemptions.
- With agricultural counterparts in the federal and provincial governments,
making improvements to the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization
program to ensure that Ontario’s farmers have access to business
risk management programs that truly meet their needs.
- A new Foodland Ontario television advertising campaign encouraging
consumers to buy Ontario fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Presented the Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards to 24 food retailers
who have shown outstanding commitment and creativity in their marketing
of Ontario fruit and vegetable products.
Research and Innovation
- Transferred ownership of three colleges and 14 research stations to
the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario to promote new investment
in Ontario’s agri-food research facilities.
- Launched, in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the
Agricultural Management Institute (AMI), a $5 million business management
and skills initiative. AMI will provide Ontario farm families, managers
and farm advisors with improved access to the tools they need to help
them achieve higher levels of business and economic success.
- Provided, with the government of Canada, more than $5 million in innovation
projects that will strengthen links between producers and consumers,
identify commercialization prospects resulting from advancements in
life sciences and bioproducts, and capture opportunities related to
new trends in healthy living. The initiatives are cost-shared under
the $15.2 million Science and Innovation envelope of the Canada-Ontario
Agricultural Policy Framework.
- Created the new Institute for Agri-Food Policy Innovation to develop
innovative recommendations with long-term policy benefits to improve
the quality of life of all Ontarians.
- 30 -
Contact:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
(416) 326-3072
BACKGROUNDER:
A YEAR IN REVIEW FOR THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
AND RURAL COMMUNITIES
Ontario's rural communities contribute significantly to the high quality
of life Ontario offers its citizens. The McGuinty government is delivering
on its plan to acknowledge the important contributions that rural Ontario
makes to the vitality of our entire province.
The rural plan reflects input from rural residents and organizations.
Their priorities include ways to boost economic development, the best
strategies for addressing fiscal pressures and infrastructure needs, and
the importance of healthy communities and a clean and healthy environment.
The rural plan offers strategies for addressing these priorities.
The Ontario government has invested close to $175 million in our rural
communities, to help improve their bridges, roads, solid waste management
facilities, water and wastewater treatment facilities, as well as revitalize
their economies, enhance local skills and increase access to health care
services.
Highlights of the many achievements made in rural Ontario follow.
Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
The Rural Economic Development (RED) program invests in projects that
support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships. The priorities
for the RED program are access to healthcare services, community revitalization,
and skills enhancement.
Under this program, 33 projects were approved for funding in 2005-06,
in which the province is investing more than $11 million. This funding,
in addition to the investments made by the communities themselves, amounts
to a total investment of nearly $78 million.
Examples: Community Revitalization:
- The government will contribute $425,643 to the “Tourism Revitalization
in Stratford” project. This project is a partnership between seven
stakeholders who have identified that providing a “superior Stratford
experience” is a key component in re-gaining Stratford’s vitality
as a visitor destination. The project is comprised of three key activity
streams that consist of: skills development for the tourism/hospitality
sector; downtown revitalization; and, enhancement of year-round tourism.
The project will: develop a five-year business plan for the Centre of
Service Excellence; provide customer service training for 800 participants;
determine the feasibility of a Stratford Chef School; facilitate the
revitalization of downtown Stratford including new public spaces and
signage; and, develop a year-round Strategic and Operational Plan. The
total project cost is $851,285.
Skills Enhancement:
- The Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) and their project
partners, received a cost-sharing grant of $1,458,890 from the province
of Ontario to enable communities and manufacturers in rural Eastern
and Northern Ontario to enhance their global competitive capabilities
through the deployment of advanced manufacturing training strategies,
labourpool building initiatives and seeding new management network clusters.
Project partners include: Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Community
Futures Development Corporation, the Renfrew Industrial Commission,
the County of Lennox & Addington, the Kingston Economic Development
Commission and the Communities Quality Initiative. The total project
cost is $ 3,171,500.
- The government will contribute $590,335 to Confederation College Forestry
Centre and their project partners who hosted four educational camps
aimed at job skills training and summer employment for 75 First Nations
youth. The camps were held at sites across Northern Ontario: Upsala,
Sioux Narrows Provincial Park, Aaron Provincial Park and Guylfoyle Camp
near Kapuskasing. The program provided the youth with training in skills
related to forestry and natural resources, practical experience through
summer employment and workshops on employment opportunities in the industry.
The total cost of the project was $1,124,995.
Ontario Small Town and Rural Development (OSTAR) Infrastructure Initiative
During 2005, the province invested $38.7 million under the Ontario Small
Town and Rural Development (OSTAR) Infrastructure initiative to help 40
municipalities achieve compliance with the Drinking Water Systems Regulation.
Example:
- The Town of St. Mary's opened a refurbished water pumping station
and improvements to well number one in May 2005, both of which were
funded through OSTAR. The Town has now completed work on two of the
three well supplies that OSTAR is funding, at a total eligible cost
of almost $3 million with a provincial commitment of close to $1 million.
This investment in the town's water supply ensures that the town will
meet provincial regulations for water quality and monitoring.
Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF)
The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing up to $298
million to COMRIF. With municipal investments, this program is expected
to stimulate up to $900 million in infrastructure investments over five
years to help meet local priorities.
In 2005 the Ontario government, through the COMRIF program announced
investments of up to $249,178,024 in 120 communities through Intake One
of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF). These
investments will provide municipalities with the support they need to
renew essential infrastructure in their communities.
Examples:
- The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $899,000
for improvements to the Third Concession Road, Roseborough Road and
Hanlan Street in the Town of Essex. The Town will contribute the balance
of the total project investment of nearly $2.7 million.
- The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $275,000
to replace the York River Bridge. The bridge will be replaced with a
new steel truss panel bridge. The Township of Carlow/Mayo will contribute
the balance of the eligible project cost of up to $825,000.
Other Rural Development Initiatives
Downtown Revitalization – Eleven communities – from
Tweed to Brussels - are working with OMAFRA to pilot a series of market
analysis tools aimed at understanding their downtown. Six of these are
also following a Main Street revitalization process. The pilot experience
will be used to develop a new package of tools expected to be available
in mid-2006.
First Impressions Community Exchange – Eleven of these exchanges
were conducted involving 22 communities to test resource materials and
processes aimed at setting priorities for local community revitalization
projects.
Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) – This program is
aimed at promoting job growth and economic prosperity in Ontario by helping
communities identify both opportunities for expansion and the barriers
facing local businesses. In 2005, staff completed BR+E Co-ordinator Training
sessions in Peterborough, Thorold and Sudbury, which were attended by
60 participants. More than 50 communities have signed up for a new web-based
application since June, 2005 using a new web-based application.
A number of seminars and workshops were also conducted on topics ranging
from increasing local tourism to developing wind power to linking small
businesses to apprenticeship opportunities.
- 30 -
Contact:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
(416) 326-3072
