Ontario meat processors and farmers have the opportunity to apply for funding under two new program intakes of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative is an up to $4 million program that will provide up to $150,000 per project for improvements to product handling and processing equipment. It will also cover… Read More
Tag: Ernie Hardeman
Three of Ontario’s ministries (Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Health; and Labour, Training and Skills Development) have committed to a strategy to prevent COVID-19 transmission, and protect workers and the province’s food supply chain ahead of next year’s growing season. The joint government-industry Prevention, Control and Outbreak Support Strategy for COVID-19 in Ontario’s Farm Workers… Read More
Doug Ford’s provincial government has revealed its next budget, a process that was interrupted for several months by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a very large budget — $187 billion — with a projected record-breaking deficit $38.5 billion. Budget spending revolves around current and possibly on-going pandemic disruption for several years, and is split into three… Read More
The federal government has stepped in to top up provincial funding for workplace health and safety measures on-farm in Ontario. Agriculture and Agri-Food minister Marie-Claude Bibeau previously announced $35 million for a federally-administered program, and this week, announced $11.6 million for the Ontario version — the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP). Originally announced in… Read More
Ontario’s provincial government, along with the federal government, has announced funding for several projects that will support labour and training needs in the farming sector. This includes $180,000 towards the development of a new college program that will provide education and training in the latest agricultural equipment. “Helping to meet the labour and training needs… Read More
After being pushed from July to October due to COVID-19, the FPT Agriculture first ministers meeting has been further delayed to November, according to a tweet from AAFC on Tuesday morning. The AAFC tweet says “Ministers agree to hold their virtual meeting in November to accommodate Saskatchewan election, ensuring all #AgFPT20 partners can be at… Read More
Later this week, it will be an offence under Ontario law to “stop, obstruct, hinder or otherwise interfere with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals.” Ontario’s government has proclaimed Section 6(1) and three other related sections of Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020. These proclamations will ensure the safety… Read More
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is expanding eligibility for agriculture societies to apply for funding to help offset financial losses due to the cancellation of fall fairs, exhibitions, and activities during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. For this year only, nearly $1 million will be made available to all qualifying agricultural and… Read More
The government of Ontario has pledged a $2.35 million investment to the University of Guelph (U of G) for advanced animal research related to livestock health, well-being, and productivity. Designed to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the Ontario livestock sector, the research will provide farmers with the latest knowledge and on-farm solutions for safely… Read More
Premier Doug Ford set up at Lambton-Kent-Middlesex-area Carven Farms to announce not only the province’s $7 billion share of the federal $19 billion “safe re-start” of the economy, but also to announce the planned bump to Ontario’s risk management programs would go ahead a year early. The federal transfer payment is to cover health care,… Read More