Premier Ford speaks at OFA AGM

Nov 23, 2020

The premier thanked farmers for their work during the pandemic

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Attendees of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s virtual annual general meeting received a message of appreciation from Premier Doug Ford.

“You’ve all pulled your weight and then some during this crisis and I appreciate that,” he said Monday morning. “When people were worried about food and supply shortages (producers) were there to reassure everyone.

“You ensured food continued to flow from farm to the table, you ensured grocery store shelves were kept stocked and you ensured that supply chains remained strong. That was so crucial.”

This morning, I was proud to join Premier @FordNation at the @OntarioFarms virtual AGM to talk about our government’s support for Ontario’s farmers and agri-food sector as we work together on Ontario’s road to recovery. pic.twitter.com/us6j1Tvg5q
— Ernie Hardeman (@erniehardeman) November 23, 2020

Ford also highlighted the industry’s generosity to help families in need get through the pandemic.

He noted Gray Ridge Egg Farms’s donation of 100,000 eggs to local food banks and how Dairy Farmers of Ontario provided 200,000 litres of milk to provincial communities.

“That certainty, during a time of uncertainty, meant the world to Ontario families,” the premier said.

Ontario’s ag sector continues to donate to their communities.

On Nov. 11, Chicken Farmers of Ontario announced it is matching donations made by Ontario poultry veterinarians – up to $1,000.

Ford’s remarks also touched on how his government is helping the sector navigate the challenges brought on by COVID-19.

This support included adding $50 million to the business risk management programs, working with industry to develop a COVID prevention strategy and providing agricultural and horticultural societies with a total of $5 million to help offset the cancellation of fall fairs and exhibits.

Ontario’s agriculture industry will be a key component of the province’s economic recovery, the premier noted.

“A strong farming sector will feed a strong recovery for everyone in our province,” he said.

Video: Canada's Agriculture Day 2025

Let's celebrate Canadian agriculture.

Well, number one, you don't eat without farmers. Farmers put food on the table. And what could be more important than that?

Well, I think it's important that Canadians understand exactly what takes place, what happens to produce this food, no matter what sector you're talking about.

An awful lot of work goes into that. It's important to understand that meat does not come out of a showcase, and milk does not come out of a bottle. It's produced by farmers and hard work.

Canada has the best farmers in the world. And agriculture is vital to Canada.

In 2024, our agriculture and agri-food sector represented $150 billion of Canada's GDP, nearly $100 billion of our exports, and one in nine jobs.

From grains to fruits to dairy and beef, we are truly blessed with an incredible bounty. Having spent my whole life in agriculture, I see so much potential for the sector.

This time last year, I was proud to open our first-ever agriculture and trade office in the Indo-Pacific, the world’s fastest-growing economy, to cement our presence in the region and grow our exports even more. We've also been making historic investments to help our farmers to boost their yields, protect the planet, and earn a fair living.

The world wants more top-quality, sustainable food, and I know our Canadian farmers can deliver. And it's so important that you do that with pride. We need you.

Quite simply, you eat the most top quality food in the world. You do that because of the quality of farmers and ranchers you have in this country.

Just say thank you to a farmer or a rancher. They work very hard, yes, for a living, but also with a sense of pride in what they produce.

That's what Canada's Agriculture Day is all about.