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🍁💵Ontario Introducing Legislation to Protect and Strengthen Ontario’s Agri-Food Sector 🥔🥕

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 02:14.PM

- Government updating Grow Ontario Strategy and taking next steps to build a stronger, more competitive and more resilient agri-food sector -

Today, the Ontario government introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026. The proposed changes, if passed, will deliver on the government’s plan to protect Ontario by strengthening domestic food production and further protecting farmers and the quality of Ontario’s food system. Alongside these changes, the province is also taking next steps to update its Grow Ontario Strategy to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant agri-food sector in the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.

“Our agriculture sector is a cornerstone of Ontario’s economy, employing more than 10 per cent of the province’s workforce and helping put food on tables at home and around the world,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “In a time of global uncertainty, it’s vital we give our farmers and businesses the tools they need to succeed. With these changes, we are continuing to build a more productive and self-reliant agriculture and food sector.”

The ministry is currently reviewing its Grow Ontario Strategy focused on strengthening resilience and encouraging a buy-local approach. The government is engaging with farmers, agri-food businesses and other industry partners to help position the sector for long-term self-reliance and prosperity, supported by today’s proposed legislative changes.

These updates will build on the success of the Grow Ontario Strategy launched in 2022, which has already helped achieve a 13 per cent average annual increase in exports, a 15 per cent rise in employment and a 20 per cent increase in farm sales, reinforcing Ontario’s position as the largest food processor in Canada and a leading agri-food jurisdiction in North America.

If passed, the Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026 and related measures would enable the following:
• Protect local ownership of provincial agriculture by creating restrictions on foreign acquisition of Ontario farmland. This policy is intended to prioritize Ontario farmers’ access to Ontario farmland and limit access for harmful foreign interests, while allowing for reasonable exceptions that will be developed following consultations with impacted stakeholders. Similar policies are in place in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island.
• Expand agricultural production in northern Ontario by making it easier for Ontario farmers to lease or access arable land on the Clay Belt.
• Continue the work on modernizing the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario.
• Implement a number of measures to modernize, streamline, and improve regulations for the agri-food sector and reduce red tape for industry partners.

"Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) applauds the government on protecting Ontario’s food independence and our province’s crucial role in securing Canada’s agriculture and food sector. We welcome the Milk Act amendments that will align Ontario’s milk pricing policies with national standards, enabling a level playing field and continued stability in delivery of high-quality milk from Ontario farms for processing in Ontario. DFO shares the government’s commitment to ensuring a stronger, trusted domestic food system, with a regulatory framework that supports continuous improvement and compliance of world-class, high-quality food safety standards for cow’s milk in Ontario."
- Mark Hamel, Chair, Dairy Farmers of Ontario

Quick Facts

• The agri-food sector employs one-in-nine Ontarians and generated $52 billion in GDP in 2024.
• Ontario is the largest food processor in Canada and a top-four jurisdiction in North America.
• The 10-year Grow Ontario Strategy was launched in 2022 to strengthen the agri-food sector, support long-term economic growth, and ensure an efficient, reliable and responsive food supply for Ontarians.

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness