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See Pages 12-13 for our Shop and Dine Local section VOL. 39 • No. 5
MANOTICK, ONTARIO
www.manotickmessenger.ca
Friday March 10, 2023
Minister tells local farmers Ontario agriculture has bright future By Manotick Messenger Staff Not only is farming the backbone of Rideau-Jock and Osgoode, but it is also a big part of the engine that drives Ontario. Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson was a guest at MPP Goldie Ghamari’s Farmers Appreciation Breakfast at the Richmond Memorial Community Centre Sat., Feb. 25. The free breakfast was attended by well over 200 people, with many from the farming communities in and around Manotick, Richmond, North Gower and Osgoode. It was the first Farmers Appreciation Breakfast hosted by Ghamari since the COVID-19 pandemic began three years ago. Minister Thompson had an event in her riding the previous night and left Bruce County at 9 p.m. to make
the long drive to rural Ottawa to join Ghamari at the event. “We rolled into here at 2:51 a.m. so we made it!” Minister Thompson told the large crowd. “If you have to head east, it’s a good time to roll because the 401 is not very busy.” The Minister and MPP greeted and engaged with most of the people who attended the breakfast. Minister Thompson took particular in meeting local farmers and members of agricultural families. She grew up in the 4H program and showed her first calf at the age of 11. “It’s an honour to be here as your Ontario Minister of Agriculture,” she said as she addressed the crowd. “I have to tell you our Government at Queen’s Park truly values and gets small towns, rural areas and our agricultural sector. Agriculture always has been and al-
ways will be a cornerstone of the economy. One in 10 jobs in the province of Ontario is directly connected to the agri-sector. People around the world are looking to Ontario to produce good quality food that they can trust, and they want to build relationships with our province.” Minister Thompson commented that she was still suffering from jet leg as she had just returned from a trade mission to Japan and VietNam. She was with an entourage that represented five of Ontario’s commodities – beef, pork, wine, ginseng and grains and oil seeds. “It was more than just building relationships,” she said of the trip. “At the end of the day, after 10 days of non-stop meetings and events – we actually had over 100 business meetings – we signed four memorandums of understanding, and
Carleton MPP and Ontario Minister of Agriculture Lisa Thompson spoke to approximately 200 local residents at Ghamari’s Carleton Farmers Appreciation Breakfast held at the Richmond Memorial Community Centre Sat., Feb. 25.
we have a number of return visits already in the hopper.” One of those visits will be made by representatives from Costco in Japan, who will be coming to Ottawa to talk about Ontario food products. “On the other side of the
world, people want to know where their food comes from,” Minister Thompson said. “I think in Ontario sometimes we take it for granted. I was awestruck by the stories of the grocery stores in Japan and VietNam. You go in, and you visit the fish counter.
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There are loud speakers and there is a voice explaining each and every type of fish. There are signs in the meat counters and displays that show this cut of beef is from this part of the animal. It’s similar for pork as well.”
agriculture
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