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Minister Ritz Speaking in London, Ontario

Minister Ritz Speaking in London, Ontario

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Comment by Joe Dales on February 19, 2014 at 10:48am

Minister Ritz Highlights Budget 2014 and Trade Opportunities at London Chamber of Commerce

 

February 19, 2014 – London, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

 

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today addressed the London Chamber of Commerce to outline how Canada's Economic Action Plan 2014 will foster economic growth and help Ontario succeed in the global economy. He emphasized that the Government's top priority in Budget 2014 remains jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

 

Minister Ritz also outlined the importance of the agriculture and the agri-food sector to the economy of Ontario and the key role that opening new markets plays in creating new opportunities for the industry. The Canada-EU trade agreement will open new markets and unlock growth opportunities in the European Union for Ontario's producers, processors and exporters. Once fully implemented, the agreement will eliminate tariffs on almost all of Ontario's key exports, from chemicals, to plastics, to processed foods.

 

Quick facts

 

Under Canada's Economic Action Plan:

  • An investment of $630 million will advance the construction of the new Windsor-Detroit corridor, which handles a third of all Canada-U.S. trade carried by truck.
  • An investment of $1.5 billion in the new Canada First Research Excellence Fund will help Canadian universities excel globally in research areas that will create long-term economic advantages for Canada.
  • An additional $500 million over two years will be provided to the Automotive Innovation Fund to support significant new strategic research and development projects and long-term investments to the Canadian automotive sector.
  • The Building Canada Plan will receive a further $1.3 billion over two years to support additional strategic investments in public infrastructure and transportation services.
  • An additional $390 million over five years to strengthen Canada's food safety system will support the hiring of inspectors and other staff; establish a national information system to move quickly to detect and respond to food safety risks and continue core bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related programming aimed at safeguarding human and animal health.
  • An expansion of the types of farming livestock that quality for tax deferral on sale by farmers dealing with drought or excess moisture conditions.
  • The Agricultural Growth Act will strengthen intellectual property rights for plant breeders and stimulate innovation and growth in the agricultural sector.
  • The agriculture, agri-food and beverage sector in Ontario contributes $15 Billion to the province's GDP, and leads the nation in agriculture and food exports, topping $11 billion last year, for the first time ever.
  • Ontario is home to the largest food and beverage processing jurisdiction in Canada. Across Ontario, about 3,000 food and beverage companies generate $40 billion in revenues and employ more Ontarians than any other manufacturing sector in the province.

 

Quotes

 

With ongoing investments in innovation, job creation and infrastructure, and our aggressive trade agenda, our Government is opening up new frontiers for farmers across Ontario.

 

We will continue to work with producers and the entire value chain to ensure they have access to the tools they need to succeed.

 

– Gerry Ritz, Agriculture Minister

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