Ontario is preparing to introduce legislation that would restrict foreign ownership of provincial farmland, a move the province says is aimed at protecting local food production and strengthening the province’s agri-food sector.
Announced by Agriculture Minister Trevor Jones on Tuesday, the proposed changes are part of a broader plan to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant agricultural industry by ensuring farmland remains in domestic hands, said a government release.
“Ontario farmland is an important, limited resource and it should be owned by Ontario farmers,” Jones said. “Now more than ever we need to protect and grow our agri-food sector. These proposed changes will protect local food production, grow our economy and keep our farmland under domestic ownership for future generations.”
If passed, the legislation would bring Ontario in line with several other provinces, including Alberta, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, which already have restrictions on foreign farmland ownership. The province said the new rules would help ensure that farms, often held within families for generations, remain under Canadian ownership.
The government plans to consult with farmers, municipalities and industry stakeholders on how the legislation would be implemented, including the potential for exemptions. Public consultation is set to begin April 22, 2026, through the Regulatory Registry.
Supporters of the proposal say the move comes at a time of heightened global uncertainty, when maintaining domestic control over food production systems is increasingly viewed as critical to long-term stability.
Ontario’s agri-food sector remains a major economic driver, employing one in nine residents and generating $52 billion in GDP in 2024. With farmland accounting for just 5.2% of the province’s total land base, the government says protecting that land is key to sustaining both food production and economic growth.
Source : Syngenta.ca