Thank you to the member from Essex for sharing his time and sharing his youth with us—much appreciated. I’m honoured, as well, to stand here for the first time as the PA to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to speak in support of Bill 155, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario Amendment Act.

The Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario—ARIO—the University of Guelph and OMAFRA work together to oversee 14 research stations across Ontario. These stations play a valuable role in building and strengthening our agricultural industry. The research is around aquaculture, equine, poultry, swine, horticulture, beef production, dairy production, field crops, sheep.

One example is the Ontario Dairy Research Centre, where research has been conducted on better pain management for young dairy calves. This and other research leads to improved calf health, overall better herd health and productivity. One close to my riding is in Winchester; my colleague and friend from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry’s riding, it is in his riding—another PA who has a new position with the Minister of Health. I think we’d all agree he’s been thrown into the fire and doing a great job, so thanks to that member.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge that, in 2019, our government opened this new facility in Winchester, the Winchester research station, which allows for greater research into soil and water quality, climate change, nutrient availability and weed control. The scientific research that is being done into agriculture and food production across all 14 ARIO sites leads to discoveries that strengthen our supply of healthy, safe food and provides Ontario farmers and businesses with the information they need.

During the hearing at the Standing Committee on the Interior, various presenters spoke about the importance and impacts of the agricultural research taking place at these research stations. I want to spend some time sharing what the presenters told the committee.

Brian Lewis is a chicken farmer from Denfield, north of London, and a board member of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario. He says, “ARIO plays a critical role in supporting livestock research that advances farm practices for farmers in Ontario, Canada and beyond. All Canadian chicken farmers follow ... on-farm food safety and animal care programs. These standards are based on the best available science and research, and the chicken industry is continuously looking to improve animal welfare, food safety, biosecurity and efficiency in farm practices.”

He went on to say, “ARIO’s oversight in Ontario research programs, innovation, infrastructure and promotion is critical to supporting the chicken industry’s advancement, helping us to meet the evolving demands of Ontario’s consumers. To advance research and innovation priorities, the Ontario poultry industry requires in-barn research facilities that are modern and aligned with today’s strict on-farm infrastructure and production standards.

“That’s why Chicken Farmers of Ontario applauds the Ontario government for continuing to support Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector with the announced Grow Ontario Strategy. The Grow Ontario Strategy sets an ambitious and necessary goal to build and maintain world-class research infrastructure, including the announced poultry research centre.

“In April of 2023, Chicken Farmers of Ontario, along with our other board members—the Egg Farmers of Ontario, Turkey Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission—formalized an agreement with the Ontario government through ARIO and the University of Guelph to build a new poultry research centre. Following the establishment of” a memorandum of understanding, “Ontario’s four feather boards and ARIO began work on the planning and design of the new Ontario Poultry Research Centre in Elora. This research barn will not only support risk management and disease prevention but will also provide opportunities to improve on-farm efficiencies, enhance sustainable practices and introduce new, innovative technologies to Ontario’s farmers.” This is particularly relevant right now after Ontario has seen cases of avian influenza over the past couple of years.

Tom Heeman, a berry farmer and research chair of the Berry Growers of Ontario, came from his farm just east of London and told the committee: “I believe that we’re at a very pivotal moment today in agriculture. We’re at the precipice of a number of new emerging technologies. I think it’s important to highlight that ARIO is the very foundation upon which all innovation and research is conducted in this province.”

Later in his remarks, Tom went on to explain: “When I talked about this being a pivotal moment, we’re looking at emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, electronic tractors, drones, all those things that, through OMAFRA and private sector partnerships, are being” developed and tested “not only on growers’ fields but also on ARIO sites.

“An additional area of investigation is mRNA vaccines applied to pest-control, so you have highly, highly selective genetic mechanisms to silence pests, with almost no environmental impact. That’s work that is being done at Guelph and at ARIO facilities.”

Dr. Shayan Sharif, who is a professor at the Ontario Veterinary College and associate vice president of research at the University of Guelph, explained how research has improved agricultural output in Ontario:

“Let’s put this into some plain terms: The average dairy cow is producing three times more milk now than 50 years ago. The advances to make production more efficient are because of research—research into breeding, feeding, genetics, welfare and animal health.

“Another example is that major agricultural crops are now 50% more productive, meaning higher yields and more Ontario-grown food for everyone in Ontario and for export.

“That, too, is because of research—breeding research to develop new, better-performing varieties of crops like wheat, corn and soybeans, with higher yields and better traits, like disease and pest resistance.”

The agricultural research happening across Ontario is good for farmers, it is good for consumers and it is good for our society as a whole.

Later on during the question-and-answer part of the hearing, the doctor gave an interesting example. He told us, “One of my other colleagues, Dr. Christine Baes, is working on creating better solutions for genetic selection of dairy cows to produce less methane.

“My colleague here, my counterpart, who is talking about methane production and so forth—it’s still in the primordial stages of development, but I can tell you that within the next few years, we are going to see a made-in-Ontario, made-in-Canada solution that would be in the form of dairy cows that have less methane production.

“I think without ARIO facilities, this would not be ever possible.”

I’ve been learning more about the research happening at the various ARIO research stations and elsewhere across the province, and it is fascinating. It is an interesting ministry. This Friday, I’m planning to visit the Earlton Farm Show in the riding of the member of Timiskaming–Cochrane, and while I’m in the area I am planning to visit the SPUD unit to learn about the work that they do.

We have spoken a great deal about research and modernizing the definition of it in the proposed changes to the ARIO Act. Another important aspect of our proposed changes is about governance structure. The ARIO Act was created many years before directives governing provincial agencies were developed; I believe it first came in 1962. The current governance structure allows for well-considered financial and property decisions that enable the agency to provide long-term funding for agricultural research. The governance structure also addresses immediate or short-term financial and property needs and investments.

Several updates to the governance structure of the ARIO are being proposed in the modernization of the ARIO Act. These are updates that are just good governance and bring the ARIO up to speed with the governance and public appointment requirements that exist today and didn’t exist in 1962. Examples include:

The managing director would be appointed by the Public Service Commission under part 3 of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006, and not by the minister, as is the current case.

The board of directors’ composition would be clarified such that the minimum number of appointees would be seven and the maximum 15. Currently there is no minimum stipulated.

The crown agency status of the agency would be clearly specified, and the amended act would address matters such as liability and corporate governance.

The proposed updates would also include clear rules for making of bylaws, including financial bylaws, and set out the requirements for borrowing, temporary investment of funds and financial risk management activities undertaken by ARIO. Further bylaws pertaining to borrowing, temporary investing or managing financial risk would be approved by both the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Minister of Finance.

Put simply, the proposed changes would address current and future operational needs and streamline processes.

Consultations: The minister has informed me of the rigorous process of consultation with stakeholders and the ARIO board members that has taken place to gain their insights into current and future needs. Their insights directly shaped the proposed changes, and we appreciate everyone’s time and commitment in collaborating with us on this work.

There was strong interest among stakeholders in seeing the legislation modernized and made more relevant going forward. And as was seen at committee, the stakeholder response to this proposed bill was very positive. The ministry incorporated stakeholders’ feedback into proposed amendments to the legislation. We are also incorporating those ideas into the ARIO strategic plan, the ARIO infrastructure plan, and even into the agency’s memorandum of understanding.

The Grow Ontario Strategy: All of this work is in support of growing our agriculture and food industry and achieving the ambitious goals of the Grow Ontario Strategy—goals like increasing the production and consumption of Ontario-grown food by 30% by 2032, and increasing Ontario’s agri-food exports by 8% annually.

I’m going to share one last quote. This one is from Jennifer Doelman, a farmer from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke and a member of the board of ARIO. Jennifer told the committee, “Modernization of the act will broaden the mandate of ARIO to allow the agency to build and maintain world-class agri-food research facilities, develop innovative technologies and ensure the translation and transfer of research into practical solutions for Ontario farmers. Those actions are reflected in the government’s Grow Ontario strategy, which outlines a vision for increasing agri-food innovation and adoption, and the ARIO plays a key role.”

Living in a farming community and operating a small farm—by the way, I don’t necessarily call myself a farmer; just a guy who farms, because the member from Timiskaming–Cochrane has that experience of relying on farming, and I have not—I’m proud to be part of an agency that strengthens the agri-food sector and that is taking action to be a world leader in agri-food research and innovation. And the changes that we’re proposing will accomplish that.

That is a great note to wrap up on.

As has been said during second reading and at committee, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and her ministry did their homework before proposing Bill 155. As a result, I understand that no one spoke against this bill in committee, and the clause-by-clause hearing at the committee of the interior took a total of four minutes, thanks to the great work of the minister and the ministry staff.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to Bill 155, and I am proud to speak in support of this bill.

Also, in closing, I’d just like to identify a few of the sites that are available, and to give you a perspective that it is across Ontario that these research centres exist—just a few examples: Cedar Springs, where they do horticulture research; Huron, another field crops research station in the south end of Guelph; Ridgetown, with more field crops research. Like I said before, there’s horticulture, beef, sheep—all kinds of research being done, and all to improve agriculture in Ontario.

With that, Speaker, I’ll turn it over to the great Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

I want to thank the member opposite for his speech today and taking the time to speak and bringing my interest up on going to Earlton. I look forward to it. I look forward to seeing him there and the SPUD facility as well. The great thing about these jobs is, you go to places that you may not otherwise have had the opportunity or the need to go to. So I thank him for that.

One of the things that he spoke about was Elora, the research going on there, the dairy research, in particular, and how producers have access to those facilities. I’m wondering how he feels on how we can increase the dissemination of that information and the access to the findings and the development of particularly for the north and seed development and increasing the cash crop because of the research going on.