# Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Ontario)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is an Ontario government ministry responsible for the food, agriculture and rural sectors of the Canadian province of Ontario. The Minister is currently Lisa Thompson.
The Ministry helps to build a stronger agri-food sector by investing in the development and transfer of innovative technologies, retaining and attracting investment, developing markets, providing regulatory oversight, and providing effective risk management tools.

## Ministry mandate

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs works to advance government efforts to promote a competitive and productive agri-food sector and to provide economic growth and opportunities in rural Ontario. The mandate of the Ministry is set by the Premier of Ontario and conveyed to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through a mandate letter. The mandate letter for 2014-2015 contains the following priorities:
* Supporting the growth of the agri-food sector
* Ensuring sustainability of agriculture
* Providing business supports to farmers
* Expanding agriculture in the north
* Fostering vibrant rural economies

## Foodland Ontario

Foodland Ontario, founded in 1977, is a consumer promotion program for the government of Ontario. Foodland Ontario currently falls under the administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs in Ontario. Through market research, advertising campaigns, working with local farmers and reaching out to retail locations, Foodland Ontario's mission is to "spread the word about the great taste, nutrition and economic benefits of buying Ontario food to all people in Ontario".
According to the Ministry, Foodland Ontario commercials such as the "Good things grow in Ontario" campaign reach more than 90% of the target audience including television, radio, billboard and print media campaigns. Food retailers such as grocery stores and farmer's markets display the logo to promote Ontario foods and capture niche markets for products such as health food. In 2011-12, over 700,000 copies of Foodland calendars and 250,000 copies of two Foodland cookbooks were distributed across the province.

## Ministry agencies

The Ministry is responsible for the following agencies:
* Agricorp
* Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
* Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal
* Board of Negotiation
* Business Risk Management Review Committee
* Canadian National Exhibition Association
* Council of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario
* Grain Financial Protection Board
* Livestock Financial Protection Board
* Livestock Medicines Advisory Committee
* Normal Farm Practices Protection Board
* Ontario Agristability Review Committee
* Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission
* Ontario Food Terminal Board
* Rural Economic Development Advisory Panel

## Organization history

Prior to confederation, the Bureau of Agriculture of the Province of Canada was responsible for collecting facts and statistics relating to the agricultural, mechanical and manufacturing interests.
Under the terms of the British North America Act of 1867, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was empowered to appoint, as one of the executive officers of the government, a Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works.
On March 4, 1868, the Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts, and Manufactures received royal assent, establishing the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works. The Commissioner was referred to simply as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts when dealing with matters relating to arts and agriculture, and as the Commissioner of Public Works, when dealing with matters relating to public works. However, a separate Department of Public Works was established in 1869, taking over the public works functions. However, one individual continued to be commissioner for both portfolios until 1874.
The agricultural and arts functions of the department were carried out by the Commissioner through the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts. "Arts", at the time, referred to the practical application of an industrial, manufacturing, or scientific pursuit, rather than to its current meaning. Additionally, a variety of both agricultural and arts-related agencies were required to report to the commissioner, and to provide statistical information to the bureau. The department also had responsibility over immigration between 1869 and 1874. In 1874, a separate Commissioner for the Department of Public Works was created.
In 1877, the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts was formally established. The Commissioner acted as head of the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts from 1877 until 1882, as well as the Bureau of Industries, which replaced the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts, from 1882 until 1888.
In 1880, the "arts" related responsibilities of the Commissioner, and the bureau, were transferred to the Department of Education. The name of the department, however, remained the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts until 1888.
In 1888, the department was renamed the Department of Agriculture. With this change, the head of the department was renamed to the Minister of Agriculture, with cabinet standing. Prior to the First World War, the department were responsible for a wide range of functions including the Office of the Registrar General (until 1891); the Clerk of Forestry (until 1895); the Inspector of Factories (until 1915); the Inspector of Mines (until 1891); and the Provincial Inspector in Road-making (until 1900). After the First World War, the department's function became increasingly more focused in the regulation and promotion of agricultural activities. The department was briefly responsible for telephone services between 1960 and 1971.
In 1966, the department was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Food. By this time, rural development has emerged distinctly as an area of focus. With the reorganization of the government in 1972, the department was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. In 1994, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

### List of ministers

| | Name | Term of office | Tenure | Political party (Ministry) | Note |
| | Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works | Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works | Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works | Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works | Liberal Conservative (MacDonald) |
| | John Carling | July 16, 1867 | December 20, 1871 | 4 years, 157 days | Carling later served as federal Minister of Agriculture between 1885 and 1891 under Prime Ministers Macdonald and Abbott. |
| | Archibald McKellar | December 20, 1871 | October 25, 1872 | 3 years, 215 days | Liberal (Blake) | |
| October 25, 1872 | Archibald McKellar | March 24, 1874 | Liberal (Mowat) | 3 years, 215 days | |
| | Commissioner of Agriculture | Commissioner of Agriculture | Commissioner of Agriculture | 3 years, 215 days | |
| | Archibald McKellar | March 24, 1874 | July 23, 1875 | 3 years, 215 days | Concurrently Provincial Secretary and Registrar (April 4, 1874 – July 23, 1875) |
| | Samuel Casey Wood | July 23, 1875 | June 2, 1883 | 7 years, 314 days | Concurrently Provincial Secretary and Registrar (July 23, 1875 – March 19, 1877), Treasurer (March 19, 1877 – June 2, 1883) |
| | James Young | June 2, 1883 | November 2, 1883 | 153 days | Concurrently Treasurer |
| | Alexander McLagan Ross | November 2, 1883 | May 1, 1888 | 4 years, 181 days | Concurrently Treasurer |
| | Charles Alfred Drury | May 1, 1888 | September 16, 1890 | 2 years, 138 days | Styled as Minister of Agriculture with cabinet status |
| | Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Agriculture | |
| | John Dryden | September 16, 1890 | July 21, 1896 | 14 years, 145 days | |
| July 21, 1896 | John Dryden | October 21, 1899 | Liberal (Hardy) | 14 years, 145 days | |
| October 21, 1899 | John Dryden | February 8, 1905 | Liberal (Ross) | 14 years, 145 days | |
| | Samuel Nelson Monteith | February 8, 1905 | October 6, 1908 | 3 years, 241 days | Conservative (Whitney) | |
| | James Stoddart Duff | October 6, 1908 | September 25, 1914 | 8 years, 42 days | |
| September 25, 1914 | James Stoddart Duff | November 17, 1916 | Conservative (Hearst) | 8 years, 42 days | Died in office |
| | William Hearst | December 19, 1916 | May 23, 1918 | 1 year, 155 days | Concurrently Premier |
| | George Stewart Henry | May 23, 1918 | November 14, 1919 | 1 year, 175 days | |
| | Manning Doherty | November 14, 1919 | July 16, 1923 | 3 years, 244 days | United Farmers (Drury) | |
| | John Strickler Martin | July 16, 1923 | September 16, 1930 | 7 years, 62 days | Conservative (Ferguson) | |
| | Thomas Laird Kennedy | September 16, 1930 | December 15, 1930 | 3 years, 297 days (first instance) | |
| December 15, 1930 | Thomas Laird Kennedy | July 10, 1934 | Conservative (Henry) | 3 years, 297 days (first instance) | |
| | Duncan Marshall | July 10, 1934 | October 12, 1937 | 3 years, 94 days | Liberal (Hepburn) | |
| | Patrick Michael Dewan | October 12, 1937 | October 21, 1942 | 5 years, 309 days | |
| October 21, 1942 | Patrick Michael Dewan | May 18, 1943 | Liberal (Conant) | 5 years, 309 days | |
| May 18, 1943 | Patrick Michael Dewan | August 17, 1943 | Liberal (Nixon) | 5 years, 309 days | |
| | Thomas Laird Kennedy | August 17, 1943 | October 19, 1948 | 9 years, 156 days (second instance) 13 years, 88 days in total | PC (Drew) | |
| October 19, 1948 | Thomas Laird Kennedy | May 4, 1949 | PC (Kennedy) | 9 years, 156 days (second instance) 13 years, 88 days in total | Concurrently Premier |
| May 4, 1949 | Thomas Laird Kennedy | January 20, 1953 | PC (Frost) | 9 years, 156 days (second instance) 13 years, 88 days in total | |
| | Fletcher Stewart Thomas | January 20, 1953 | August 1, 1956 | 3 years, 194 days | |
| | William Arthur Goodfellow | August 1, 1956 | November 8, 1961 | 5 years, 99 days | |
| | William Atcheson Stewart | November 8, 1961 | May 18, 1966 | 13 years, 333 days | PC (Robarts) | |
| | Minister of Agriculture and Food | Minister of Agriculture and Food | Minister of Agriculture and Food | 13 years, 333 days | |
| | William Atcheson Stewart | May 18, 1966 | March 1, 1971 | 13 years, 333 days | |
| March 1, 1971 | William Atcheson Stewart | October 7, 1975 | PC (Davis) | 13 years, 333 days | |
| | Bill Newman | October 7, 1975 | August 30, 1979 | 3 years, 327 days | |
| | Lorne Henderson | August 30, 1979 | February 13, 1982 | 2 years, 167 days | |
| | Dennis Timbrell | February 13, 1982 | February 8, 1985 | 2 years, 361 days | |
| | Philip Andrewes | February 8, 1985 | May 17, 1985 | 98 days | PC (Miller) | |
| | K. Ross Stevenson | May 17, 1985 | June 26, 1985 | 40 days | |
| | Jack Riddell | June 26, 1985 | August 2, 1989 | 4 years, 37 days | Liberal (Peterson) | |
| | David Ramsay | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | 1 year, 60 days | |
| | Elmer Buchanan | October 1, 1990 | March 9, 1994 | 4 years, 268 days | NDP (Rae) | |
| | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs | | | 4 years, 268 days | NDP (Rae) |
| | Elmer Buchanan | March 9, 1994 | June 26, 1995 | 4 years, 268 days | NDP (Rae) | |
| | Noble Villeneuve | June 26, 1995 | June 17, 1999 | 3 years, 356 days | PC (Harris) | Concurrently Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs |
| | Ernie Hardeman | June 17, 1999 | February 7, 2001 | 1 year, 235 days (first instance) | PC (Harris) | |
| | Brian Coburn | February 8, 2001 | April 14, 2002 | 1 year, 65 days | PC (Harris) | |
| | Helen Johns | April 15, 2002 | October 22, 2003 | 1 year, 190 days | PC (Eves) | |
| | Steve Peters | October 23, 2003 | June 29, 2005 | 1 year, 249 days | Liberal (McGuinty) | |
| | Leona Dombrowsky | June 29, 2005 | January 18, 2010 | 4 years, 203 days | |
| | Carol Mitchell | January 18, 2010 | October 20, 2011 | 1 year, 275 days | |
| | Ted McMeekin | October 20, 2011 | February 11, 2013 | 1 year, 114 days | |
| | Minister of Agriculture and Food | Minister of Agriculture and Food | Minister of Agriculture and Food | Minister of Agriculture and Food | Liberal (Wynne) |
| | Kathleen Wynne | February 11, 2013 | June 24, 2014 | 1 year, 133 days | Concurrently Premier. Jeff Leal is Minister of Rural Affairs for this period. |
| | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs | |
| | Jeff Leal | June 24, 2014 | June 29, 2018 | 4 years, 5 days | Total tenure 5 years, 138 days including time as Minister of Rural Affairs. |
| | Ernie Hardeman | June 29, 2018 | June 17, 2021 | 2 years, 354 days (second instance) | PC (Ford) | |
| | Lisa Thompson | June 18, 2021 | August 4, 2024 | 2 years, 354 days | PC (Ford) | |
| | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness | Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness | | | | PC (Ford) |
| | Rob Flack | June 6, 2024 | present | 225 days | PC (Ford) | Lisa Thompson is Minister of Rural Affairs for this period |