For immediate release
April 1, 2026
QUEEN’S PARK: Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady today stood in the Ontario Legislature to tell the government families looking for affordability are disappointed with the Ontario Budget but she also relayed that farmers are equally as disappointed.
Brady pointed out that government members quite frequently position themselves as the primary advocate and government for rural Ontario. She reminded her colleagues that she had called on this government to act—decisively—and invest in Ontario’s agri-food industry when talk of trade issues surfaced.
She reiterated the sector contributes nearly $51 billion to our provincial GDP and supports close to one million jobs, which rivals the economic impact of the auto manufacturing sector. She commented food manufacturing is a unique strength for the provincial economy, but without investment it cannot deliver its full potential.
“Straight from the OFA (Ontario Federation of Agriculture) news release: We are disappointed by the absence of direct policy aimed at expanding food processing capacity in Ontario. The Budget did not introduce any targeted policies aimed at expanding Ontario’s food processing sector,” Brady read.
She flagged that the agriculture mentions in the Budget are largely recycled news. She suggested the government could be changing the economic landscape in this province today if it established a dedicated agri-food processing growth fund, enhanced the risk management program, strengthened Foodland (Ontario), and buy local initiatives, modernized wildlife damage compensation for farmers, and strengthened the agricultural impact assessment framework and resources.
She concluded stating that this government continues to overlook and undervalue the very people who put food on our tables.
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For more information, contact MPP Bobbi Ann Brady at [email protected] or 519-428-0446