OFA provides comments to the Ontario Liberal Party regarding a meeting request to discuss Ontario agriculture and its contribution to our province’s recovery from COVID-19. OFA has identified many investments and policy changes needed to identify how Ontario agriculture can enhance its contribution to Ontario’s economic recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. As the Ontario Liberal Party rebuilds, OFA believes that our province’s agri-food and rural communities can bring a unique perspective to the table. With the right investments in the right places, agriculture will be a significant player in bringing Ontario’s economy back to it’s pre-COVID might. This year, the priority will shift towards rebuilding an economy that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic by creating an environment that will allow Ontario businesses to emerge stronger and better from one of the most challenging times in the history of the province. OFA recommends four key areas in rural Ontario where the province can stimulate the economy:

1. Invest in rural infrastructure.
2. Restore Ontario’s capacity for food sovereignty and food safety.
3. Preserve rural schools and health care.
4. Respect the unique needs of rural Ontario communities.