On September 24^th OMAFRA Regional Economic Development Branch staff Pierrette Desrochers, Agriculture Development Advisor; Monique Legault, Manager North Region in collaboration with John O’Neil OMAFRA Planner for the north presented a workshop entitled “Growing Agriculture and Agri-Food in Northern Ontario” at the Northeastern Ontario Planning Authorities Workshop in Sudbury.

OMAFRA staff discussed potential ways to increase economic opportunities  through the development of agriculture and agri-food sector in Northern Ontario and shared resources to support municipalities.

The resources included:

• The farmnorth.com website was launched in September 2015 in collaboration with the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA). Farmnorth.com will assist prospective clients as they explore opportunities. Clients can now get information on soils, farm machinery dealers, agri-businesses, municipalities, schools, farm organizations all in one convenient place.
• Northern Ontario – Municipal Regulatory Toolkit. This Resource provides a summary overview of pertinent legislation that Municipal staff (Clerk, CAO, Building Officials, etc.) may encounter on a day-to-day basis. This Resource is being finalized and will be delivered to every municipality in Northern Ontario this Fall.  For more information on this resource please contact the Agricultural Development Advisor for your community.

The Northeastern Ontario Planning Authorities Workshop is an annual two-day in-service training sponsored by  Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.   This event had over 110 participants representing 60 Northeastern municipalities, Planning Boards, Conservation Authorities and partner ministries.