Ontario Gives Early Announcement to $50 Million Risk Management Program

Ontario premier Doug Ford along with Minister of Agriculture Ernie Hardeman provided details of Ontario’s plan to expand the Risk Management Program a year earlier than expected by $50 million

by Rachel Emmanuel and Anchal Sharma – iPolitics.ca

Applications will reopen today and eligible farmers have until July 30 to apply.

Producers are asked to contact the Ministry of Agriculture’s delivery group, Agricorp to enroll in the program or to discuss individual cases, according to a press release.

“This announcement from the Ontario government will help to provide the critical support the agriculture sector needs to weather the financial storm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic”

 

The expansion is in addition to a $15 million Enhanced Agrifood Workplace Protection Program that gives farmers access to cost-share funding to buy protective or medical equipment for their workers.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture welcomed the additional funds in their own press release.

OFA president Keith Currie stated that “today’s announcement from the Ontario government will help to provide the critical support the agriculture sector needs to weather the financial storm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”