Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Ontario)

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'alimenntation et des affaires rurales  (French)
Government ministry overview
Formed	1994
Jurisdiction	Government of Ontario
Headquarters	Stone Road Complex, 1 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Minister responsible	Jeff Leal
Website	www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/index.html

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is an Ontario government ministry responsible for the food, agriculture and rural sectors of the Canadian province of Ontario. The Minister is currently Jeff Leal.^[1]

The Ministry helps to build a stronger agri-food sector by investing in the development and transfer of innovative technologies, retaining and attracting investment, developing markets, providing regulatory oversight, and providing effective risk management tools.^[2]

Ministry mandate

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs works to advance government efforts to promote a competitive and productive agri-food sector and to provide economic growth and opportunities in rural Ontario.^[3] The mandate of the Ministry is set by the Premier of Ontario and conveyed to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through a mandate letter. The mandate letter for 2014-2015 contains the following priorities:^[3]

• Supporting the growth of the agri-food sector
• Ensuring sustainability of agriculture
• Providing business supports to farmers
• Expanding agriculture in the north
• Fostering vibrant rural economies

Foodland Ontario

Foodland Ontario, founded in 1977, is a consumer promotion program for the governmentof Ontario. Foodland Ontario currently falls under the administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs in Ontario.^[4] Through market research, advertising campaigns, working with local farmers and reaching out to retail locations, Foodland Ontario's mission is to "spread the word about the great taste, nutrition and economic benefits of buying Ontario food to all people in Ontario".^[4]

According to the Ministry, Foodland Ontario commercials such as the "Good things grow in Ontario" campaign reach more than 90% of the target audience including television, radio, billboard and print media campaigns. Food retailers such as grocery stores and farmer's markets display the logo to promote Ontario foods and capture niche markets for products such as health food. In 2011-12, over 700,000 copes of Foodland calendars and 250,000 copies of two Foodland cookbooks were distributed across the province.^[5]

Ministry agencies

The Ministry is responsible for the following agencies:^[6]

• Agricorp
• Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
• Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal
• Board of Negotiation
• Council of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario
• Grain Financial Protection Board
• Livestock Financial Protection Board
• Livestock Medicines Advisory Committee
• Normal Farm Practices Protection Board
• Ontario Agristability Review Committee
• Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission
• Ontario Food Terminal Board
• Rural Economic Development Advisory Panel

Organization history

The organization's name and function has changed over the years.^[7] Initially created in 1868 as the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works,^[8] it was renamed as the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts in 1877.^[9] Agricultural administration was done by the Board of Agriculture and the Bureau of Agriculture.^[10] The Commissioners from 1867 to 1888 were:

• John Carling, 1867–1871
• Archibald McKellar, 1871–1875
• Samuel Casey Wood, 1875–1883
• Alexander McLagan Ross, 1883–1888

In 1888, the Bureau was reorganized as a Department with Cabinet rank,^[11][12] and subsequently headed by the following Ministers over time:

Period	Name	Minister
1888–1966	Department of Agriculture	Charles Alfred Drury, 1888–1890 John Dryden, 1890–1905 Samuel Nelson Monteith, 1905–1908 James Stoddart Duff, 1908–1916 William Howard Hearst, 1916–1918 George Stewart Henry, 1918–1919 Manning Doherty, 1919–1923 John Strickler Martin, 1923–1930 Thomas Laird Kennedy, 1930–1934 Duncan Marshall, 1934–1937 Patrick Michael Dewan, 1937–1943 Thomas Laird Kennedy, 1943–1953 (2nd time) Fletcher Stewart Thomas, 1953–1956 William Arthur Goodfellow, 1956–1961 William Atcheson Stewart, 1961–1966
1966–1994	Ministry of Agriculture and Food[note 1]	William Atcheson Stewart, 1966–1975 William Gould Newman, 1975–1979 Lorne Henderson, 1979–1982 Dennis Timbrell, 1982–1985 Philip Andrewes, 1985 (February–May) K. Ross Stevenson, 1985 (May–June) Jack Riddell, 1985–1989 David Ramsay, 1989–1990 Elmer Buchanan, 1990–1994
1994–2013	Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs	Elmer Buchanan, 1994–1995 Noble Villeneuve, 1995–1999 Ernie Hardeman, 1999–2001 Brian Coburn, 2001–2002 Helen Johns, 2002–2003 Steve Peters, 2003–2005 Leona Dombrowsky, 2005–2010 Carol Mitchell, 2010–2011 Ted McMeekin, 2011–2013 Kathleen Wynne, 2013–2014[note 2] Jeff Leal, 2014–Present Arthur Potts, 2014–Present (Parliamentary Assistant)

References

Notes

1. Name initially changed to Department of Agriculture and Food in 1966, before becoming Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 1972.
2. Wynne split the ministry between Agriculture and Food (herself) and Jeff Leal who was Minister of Rural Affairs.

Citations

1. "Minister's Office". www.omafra.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
2. "Agriculture and Food". Government of Ontario (INFO-GO).
3. "Published Results-Based Plan 2014-15". www.omafra.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
4. "About us". Retrieved 2015-08-21.
5. "Good Things Grow in Ontario". www.omafra.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
6. "Agriculture and Food". Public Appointments Secretariat (Ontario). Retrieved 2011-06-24.
7. "Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - former designations".
8. An Act for the encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts and Manufactures ., S.O. 1868 (31 Vic), c. 29
9. The Agriculture and Arts Act., S.O. 1877 (40 Vic), c. 17
10. James 1914, pp. 569–574.
11. An Act respecting the Department of Agriculture and other Industries., S.O. 1888 (51 Vic), c. 8
12. James 1914, p. 574.

Further reading

• C.C. James (1914). History of Farming in Ontario. Toronto: Glasgow, Brook & Company. Retrieved September 29, 2013.

External links

• Official website