Quebec-Ontario Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Québec City, April 23, 2010 – Hon. Robert Dutil, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Hon. Carol Mitchell, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, met yesterday and agreed to adopt a joint action plan to promote better agri-food sector integration and competitiveness between the two provinces.

Under the action plan, the two ministers have committed to work towards mutual recognition of standards involving bilateral trade, and to increased collaboration between Quebec and Ontario in areas of common interest, including research and agri-science innovation. Moreover, the two governments will work with industry partners to address common matters facing the chicken and hog sectors.

The ministers also agreed to work together in urging the federal government to review the federal Product of Canada guidelines and consider national compositional standards for yogurt. The Ministers also agreed to continue to jointly support supply management in Canada and in international trade negotiations.

“We share common interests in combining our collective expertise and rich experience in a number of key areas, including dairy, horticulture, food product innovation and organics” stated Minister Dutil. 

Ministers Dutil and Mitchell also committed to work together in support of food export companies, and will be jointly championing the SIAL Canada trade show.  SIAL is a prominent international food export trade show currently underway in Montreal until today.

“Yesterday’s meeting is an important step forward in our joint efforts to enhance the competitiveness of producers and processors in Ontario and Quebec,” said Minister Mitchell.

As part of the Quebec-Ontario Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the two agriculture ministers will meet annually to promote a stronger collaboration in the agri-food sector.  A report back to review progress on the 2010 action plan is scheduled to take place in May 2011.  

Quick Facts

Bilateral trade in the agriculture and agri-food sectors between Quebec and Ontario is valued at approximately $9 billion annually. 

Quebec and Ontario together represent near two thirds of the Canadian food processing industry and over 65% of the supplied managed production (dairy, poultry and eggs) in Canada.

In September 2009, Quebec and Ontario Premiers signed the Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement.  The agreement between Quebec and Ontario goes beyond a strictly commercial framework by establishing commitments in cooperation, regulatory harmonization and innovation.