The Ontario Federation of Agriculture was lukewarm to the 2018 Ontario provincial budget.
The OFA was pleased with the province’s commitment to broadband access and to rural business investment, said OFA executive member Drew Spoelstra (Halton, Hamilton/Wentworth, Niagara). “OFA is pleased to see the $500 million investment over three years to help expand broadband in rural and northern communities.”
Spoelstra added that “a small nod was given to the needs of attracting new investments in rural Ontario. The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund will provide an additional $100 million to the Southwestern Ontario and Eastern Ontario Development Funds over the next 10 years to support business needs.”
There was no specific mention of agriculture in the budget that would plan to spend $6.7 billion more in one year than the province’s actual revenue from taxpayers. There is a slight increase in revenue for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
“The budget has a lot to offer Ontarians, but we’re not alone in our concern with the high and persistent deficit spending the 2018 budget delivers,” Spoelstra said.
