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Decentralized Democracy

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson

  • MPP
  • Member of Provincial Parliament
  • Huron—Bruce
  • Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
  • Ontario
  • 408 Queen St. P.O. Box 426 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Lisa.Thompsonco@pc.ola.org
  • tel: 519-523-4251
  • fax: 226-523-9296
  • Lisa.Thompson@pc.ola.org

  • Government Page
  • Apr/26/23 11:30:00 a.m.

I do appreciate the question from the member from Cambridge because our government has set out ambitious growth targets for our agri-food sector through our Grow Ontario Strategy. In that strategy, we have committed to growing Ontario’s agri-food markets and exports by 8% annually by 2030, and I’m pleased to say that we have already taken steps to accomplish just that.

Last week, we announced our Grow Ontario Market Initiative, and while I was at the Earlton Farm Show, I want to share with you that an astute person said, “If you don’t lock in the sale, nothing else matters. You need good marketing initiatives to secure that sale.” That’s what we are doing, Speaker. We’re introducing a $6-million Grow Ontario Market Initiative program through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Through the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, eligible businesses can receive up to a 50% cost share for their eligible costs in terms of ramping up their marketing initiatives, and that translates into up to $60,000 in funding. We’re also putting out supports for our industry organizations as well, and if they have eligible projects, they could receive up to $125,000.

We’re committed to building Ontario, and it’s through Ontario’s agri-food sector and the building of our marketing initiatives that we are going to absolutely prevail and show the rest of the world—

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