Ontario's premier optimistic agri-food sector will achieve growth target

Thursday, June 18, 2015

by SUSAN MANN

It’s two years into Premier Kathleen Wynne’s challenge to the agri-food industry to create thousands of new jobs plus double its growth rate in seven years and if the current trend holds the sector will meet the goal.

In October 2013, Wynne challenged the sector to create 120,000 new jobs and double its growth rate by 2020.

In a telephone interview from Stratford Tuesday, Wynne says “food processing is the area where we have a huge opportunity to grow in Ontario. We are very optimistic that if we can work with food processors we’re going to see the growth that we need.”

She says it’s her “sincere hope” the sector will reach the goal in the seven-year time frame she’s established. “I’m hearing a lot of optimism from the sector and we’re working with them to make sure the conditions are right so they can be successful.”

In an email, Christina Crowley-Arklie, press secretary and communications adviser to Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal, says by 2014 agri-food employment had an annual increase of more than two per cent since 2012, creating more than 34,000 jobs.

If the sector continues the current growth rate, the 120,000 jobs target by 2020 will be met, she says.

As for the growth rate, the ministry has created a scorecard that includes targets for growth related to Gross Domestic Product but GDP numbers for 2014 haven’t been included yet. The sector’s GDP is targeted to go to $40 billion in 2020. It was at $34.8 billion in 2013.

Jobs are pegged to reach 859,738 in 2020 and were at 767,473 in 2013. Exports are targeted to be at $20 billion in 2020 and were $11.9 billion in 2013. BF