KAILIE OORTWYN, Office of Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
KAWARTHA LAKES: The Ontario government is providing $38,646.27 to support the agricultural and horticultural societies in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock through the Agricultural and Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative. This investment will help our local organizations continue to operate and support their important efforts to educate people about the value and significance of agriculture in the province.
This new funding builds on previous investments of more than $7 million to assist agricultural and horticultural societies across the province over the past two years.
“We know the pandemic has been tough on our local agricultural and horticultural societies with many annual events being cancelled or postponed,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “This funding will help provide additional support for these organizations so we can get back to enjoying the community events and activities we all miss.”
There are two streams included in this round of funding. Firstly – Base Support Funding will be issued to all eligible Agricultural and Horticultural Societies through funding payments of $1,000 as a means of supporting their continued incorporation and activities. Secondly – Hardship Funding for eligible Agricultural Societies will provide additional support, which will be based on reported gate revenues from 2019. This will help offset operating losses, liabilities, and fixed overhead costs related to land and buildings.
“Ontario’s agricultural and horticultural societies have long-enriched communities throughout the province, and we look forward to them continuing to make significant contributions, from main street beautification projects to hosting the long-standing tradition of agricultural fairs throughout the province in 2022,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These investments reflect the value of the societies’ contributions and our government’s recognition of the pandemic-caused pressures these organizations have been weathering.”
Agricultural and Horticultural Societies play a critical role in educating Ontarians on the importance of agriculture and celebrating a rural way of life. Supporting this important sector, at this time, will ensure the long traditions and economic contributions of the societies will continue and strengthen as the province manages the impacts of COVID-19 and moves forward into the future.