OFA expresses gratitude to Premier Doug Ford and the Honourable Bill Walker regarding the recent announcement to launch Phase 2 of the Natural Gas Expansion program. Natural gas expansion across rural Ontario has been a leading priority for OFA for the past decade or more. Affordable energy is vital to the success of farms and rural businesses, and it is important to families living in rural areas. In addition to benefit citizens across the entire province, creating jobs, stimulating the economy and ensuring Ontario maintains a secure, stable and safe food system, we estimate natural gas access across rural Ontario could save farm and agricultural businesses and residents more than $1 billion in energy costs annually.