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Policy and Solutions Forum. Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce University of Windsor Unifor Windsor – May 14, 2014. Canada – Agriculture ($ Billion). Ontario. Ontario Agri-Food Trade. Premier’s Challenge – Double the rate of growth of exports. $1.4 Billion in trade each day
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Policy and Solutions Forum Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce University of Windsor Unifor Windsor – May 14, 2014
Ontario Agri-Food Trade Premier’s Challenge – Double the rate of growth of exports
$1.4 Billion in trade each day $716 Million cross each day between Ontario/U.S. AOFP Food Processing $39 billion Agriculture $11 billion Auto manufacturing $43.6 billion
Ontario GDP Overall 574.5 Billion Goods Producing Industry 131.7 Agriculture 8.7 Mining 6.5 Utilities 11.5 Construction 32.8 Manufacturing 76.2 Service Industry 442.4 Ontario is 37% of Canada G.D.P.
Ontario Agriculture DiversityMore than 200 commodities #1 Soybeans Sheep Corn Lambs Greenhouse Veg Hens & Chickens “Other” Veg Turkeys Grapes Eggs Floriculture Nursery Sod Tobacco Ginseng Dry Beans
Essex Labour (weeks) 262,705 11.85
EssexFarm Cash Receipts • (823.4 million) Greenhouse Vegetables 492.3 Soybeans 112.2 Corn 47.6 Nursery /Floriculture 41.8 Mushrooms 34.2 Field Vegetables 26.3
Agriculture is big business in Canada Ontario and Essex County
Challenges • Land base • Rural/urban • Environment • Natural resources • Water • Climate • Labour • Cost • Availability • Competitiveness • Low cost jurisdictions • Escalating input costs • Energy • regulation
Opportunity • Consistent and growing demand • Significant regional (500Km) market • Technology Adaptation • Production • Transportation • Government Support • challenge to double growth rate and create 120,000 jobs by 2020 • Market Development
What Must Happen • Consistent cross border systems • Infrastructure • Regulation • Harmonization • Enhanced marketing and promotion • Stabilization of Workforce • Regional transportation network • Consistent utilization of foreign worker programs • Skills development • Technology adaptation • Consistent, stable, reliable and competitive energy