OFA has provided comments to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada as part of the Rural Development Action Plan consultation, recommending that the Plan be embedded in long-term, growth-oriented policy that strengthens rural Canada’s competitiveness, resilience, and economic sustainability. This requires coordinated investment in trade and market enabling infrastructure, labour attraction and retention, and community-building social infrastructure.
OFA identifies rural broadband and cellular connectivity as essential economic infrastructure and calls for expanded energy capacity (natural gas and electricity) to ensure affordable, reliable power that meets current and future agricultural demand. Transportation infrastructure must be aligned with agri-food supply chains through targeted investment in roads, bridges, ports, rail, and rural transit to improve market access, trade reliability, and workforce mobility.
Persistent labour shortages threaten rural economic viability and require coordinated strategies that integrate workforce planning with housing, transportation, childcare, and healthcare supports. OFA emphasizes that social infrastructure, including healthcare, childcare, education, and community services, is foundational to labour retention and long-term rural resilience.
OFA also highlights the importance of farm business continuity, calling for targeted support for new farm entrants and succession planning to protect agricultural assets and ensure the long-term sustainability of rural economies.