Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Ontario)

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 Lisa Thompson.[1]

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair
Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'alimentation et des affaires rurales (French)
Government ministry overview
Formed1994
JurisdictionGovernment of Ontario
HeadquartersStone Road Complex, 1 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Ministers responsible
  • Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
  • Randy Pettapiece, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Rural Affairs)
  • Toby Barrett, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Agriculture & Food)
Websitewww.ontario.ca/page/ministry-agriculture-food-and-rural-affairs

omafra.gov.on.ca/english/index.html

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 government of 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 copies 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][7]

  • Agricorp
  • Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
  • Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal
  • Board of Negotiation
  • Business Risk Management Review Committee
  • Canadian National Exhibition Association
  • 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

Prior to confederation, the Bureau of Agriculture of the Province of Canada was responsible for collecting facts and statistics relating to the agricultural, mechanical and manufacturing interests.

Under the terms of the British North America Act of 1867, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was empowered to appoint, as one of the executive officers of the government, a Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works.

On March 4, 1868, the Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts, and Manufactures received royal assent, establishing the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works.[8] The Commissioner was referred to simply as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts when dealing with matters relating to arts and agriculture, and as the Commissioner of Public Works, when dealing with matters relating to public works. However, a separate Department of Public Works was established in 1869, taking over the public works functions. However, one individual continued to be commissioner for both portfolios until 1874.

The agricultural and arts functions of the department were carried out by the Commissioner through the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts.[9] "Arts", at the time, referred to the practical application of an industrial, manufacturing, or scientific pursuit, rather than to its current meaning. Additionally, a variety of both agricultural and arts-related agencies were required to report to the commissioner, and to provide statistical information to the bureau. The department also had responsibility over immigration between 1869 and 1874. In 1874, a separate Commissioner for the Department of Public Works was created.

In 1877, the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts was formally established.[10] The Commissioner acted as head of the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts from 1877 until 1882, as well as the Bureau of Industries, which replaced the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts, from 1882 until 1888.

In 1880, the "arts" related responsibilities of the Commissioner, and the bureau, were transferred to the Department of Education. The name of the department, however, remained the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts until 1888.

In 1888, the department was renamed the Department of Agriculture. With this change, the head of the department was renamed to the Minister of Agriculture, with cabinet standing.[11][12] Prior to the First World War, the department were responsible for a wide range of functions including the Office of the Registrar General (until 1891); the Clerk of Forestry (until 1895); the Inspector of Factories (until 1915); the Inspector of Mines (until 1891); and the Provincial Inspector in Road-making (until 1900). After the First World War, the department's function became increasingly more focused in the regulation and promotion of agricultural activities. The department was briefly responsible for telephone services between 1960 and 1971.

In 1966, the department was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food. By this time, rural development has emerged distinctly as an area of focus. With the reorganization of the government in 1972, the department was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. In 1994, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

List of ministers

Name Term of office Tenure Political party
(Ministry)
Note
Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works
John CarlingJuly 16, 1867December 20, 18714 years, 157 days Liberal
Conservative

(MacDonald)
Carling later served as federal Minister of Agriculture between 1885 and 1891 under Prime Ministers Macdonald and Abbott.
Archibald McKellarDecember 20, 1871October 25, 18723 years, 215 days Liberal
(Blake)
October 25, 1872March 24, 1874 Liberal
(Mowat)
Commissioner of Agriculture
Archibald McKellarMarch 24, 1874July 23, 1875While Provincial Secretary and Registrar (April 4, 1874 – July 23, 1875)
Samuel Casey WoodJuly 23, 1875June 2, 18837 years, 314 daysWhile Provincial Secretary and Registrar (July 23, 1875 – March 19, 1877), Treasurer (March 19, 1877 – June 2, 1883)
James YoungJune 2, 1883November 2, 1883153 daysWhile Treasurer
Alexander McLagan RossNovember 2, 1883May 1, 18884 years, 181 daysWhile Treasurer
Charles Alfred DruryMay 1, 1888September 16, 18902 years, 138 daysStyled as Minister of Agriculture with cabinet status
Minister of Agriculture
John DrydenSeptember 16, 1890July 21, 189614 years, 145 days
July 21, 1896October 21, 1899 Liberal
(Hardy)
October 21, 1899February 8, 1905 Liberal
(Ross)
Samuel Nelson MonteithFebruary 8, 1905October 6, 19083 years, 241 days Conservative
(Whitney)
James Stoddart DuffOctober 6, 1908September 25, 19148 years, 42 days
September 25, 1914November 17, 1916 Conservative
(Hearst)
William HearstDecember 19, 1916May 23, 19181 year, 155 daysWhile Premier
George Stewart HenryMay 23, 1918November 14, 19191 year, 175 days
Manning DohertyNovember 14, 1919July 16, 19233 years, 244 days United Farmers
(Drury)
John Strickler MartinJuly 16, 1923September 16, 19307 years, 62 days Conservative
(Ferguson)
Thomas Laird KennedySeptember 16, 1930December 15, 19303 years, 297 days
(first instance)
December 15, 1930July 10, 1934 Conservative
(Henry)
Duncan MarshallJuly 10, 1934October 12, 19373 years, 94 days Liberal
(Hepburn)
Patrick Michael DewanOctober 12, 1937October 21, 19425 years, 309 days
October 21, 1942May 18, 1943 Liberal
(Conant)
May 18, 1943August 17, 1943 Liberal
(Nixon)
Thomas Laird KennedyAugust 17, 1943October 19, 19489 years, 156 days
(second instance)
13 years, 88 days in total
PC
(Drew)
October 19, 1948May 4, 1949 PC
(Kennedy)
While Premier
May 4, 1949January 20, 1953 PC
(Frost)
Fletcher Stewart ThomasJanuary 20, 1953August 1, 19563 years, 194 days
William Arthur GoodfellowAugust 1, 1956November 8, 19615 years, 99 days
William Atcheson StewartNovember 8, 1961May 18, 196613 years, 333 days PC
(Robarts)
Minister of Agriculture and Food
William Atcheson StewartMay 18, 1966March 1, 1971
March 1, 1971October 7, 1975 PC
(Davis)
Bill NewmanOctober 7, 1975August 30, 19793 years, 327 days
Lorne HendersonAugust 30, 1979February 13, 19822 years, 167 days
Dennis TimbrellFebruary 13, 1982February 8, 19852 years, 361 days
Philip AndrewesFebruary 8, 1985May 17, 198598 days PC
(Miller)
K. Ross StevensonMay 17, 1985June 26, 198540 days
Jack RiddellJune 26, 1985August 2, 19894 years, 37 days Liberal
(Peterson)
David RamsayAugust 2, 1989October 1, 19901 year, 60 days
Elmer BuchananOctober 1, 1990March 9, 19944 years, 268 days NDP
(Rae)
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Elmer BuchananMarch 9, 1994June 26, 1995
Noble VilleneuveJune 26, 1995June 17, 19993 years, 356 days PC
(Harris)
Concurrently Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Ernie HardemanJune 17, 1999February 7, 20011 year, 235 days
(first instance)
Brian CoburnFebruary 8, 2001April 14, 20021 year, 65 days
Helen JohnsApril 15, 2002October 22, 20031 year, 190 days PC
(Eves)
Steve PetersOctober 23, 2003June 29, 20051 year, 249 days Liberal
(McGuinty)
Leona DombrowskyJune 29, 2005January 18, 20104 years, 203 days
Carol MitchellJanuary 18, 2010October 20, 20111 year, 275 days
Ted McMeekinOctober 20, 2011February 11, 20131 year, 114 days
Kathleen WynneFebruary 11, 2013June 24, 20141 year, 133 days Liberal
(Wynne)
While Premier. Wynne was styled as Minister of Agriculture and Food, while Jeff Leal held the office of Minister of Rural Affairs.
Jeff LealJune 24, 2014June 29, 20184 years, 5 daysTotal tenure 5 years, 138 days including time as Minister of Rural Affairs.
Ernie HardemanJune 29, 2018June 17, 20212 years, 354 days
(second instance)
PC
(Ford)
Lisa Thompson June 18, 2021 Incumbent 2 years, 129 days PC
(Ford)

References

Notes

    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. "Agencies and current appointees - Public Appointments Secretariat". www.pas.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
    8. Ontario (1868). An Act for the encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts and Manufactures ., S.O. 1868 (31 Vic), c. 29
    9. James 1914, pp. 569–574.
    10. Ontario (1877). The Agriculture and Arts Act., S.O. 1877 (40 Vic), c. 17
    11. Ontario (1888). An Act respecting the Department of Agriculture and other Industries., S.O. 1888 (51 Vic), c. 8
    12. James 1914, p. 574.

    Further reading

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