Farmers contribute to pension plan - for now Friday, August 21, 2015 by SUSAN MANN Farmers will have to pay the new Ontario pension plan contribution for their temporary foreign or seasonal agricultural worker program employees, an Ontario Ministry of Finance spokesman has confirmed. But that may change in the future as “the government continues to examine unique workplace arrangements, including temporary foreign workers and seasonal agricultural workers,” finance ministry spokesman Scott Blodgett says by email. The new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan requires employers and their workers to contribute an equal amount capped at 1.9 per cent each on an employee’s annual earnings up to $90,000 if there isn’t a comparable workplace pension plan. Amounts earned above the $90,000 figure in 2014 dollars will be exempt. Temporary, seasonal, part-time and contract workers “will generally be required to participate in the ORPP (Ontario Retirement Pension Plan) if they do not participate in a comparable workplace pension plan,” Blodgett says. BF Ag issues missing from election campaign Grain Farmers gets late September court date
Festival celebrates migrant workers in Leamington Friday, September 11, 2026 The Festival of Guest Nations will mark its 20th anniversary on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, bringing together migrant workers, local residents, community organizations, and service providers for a day focused on culture, community, and... Read this article online
El Niño Forecast Signals Warm Fall Across Canada Friday, September 11, 2026 According to the Weather Network, the El Niño is strengthening and is expected to become one of the most significant events on record, raising questions about how the climate pattern could influence Canada’s fall weather and the end to the growing season for producers. With El Niño... Read this article online
Premier Ford names new ag minister in cabinet shuffle Thursday, September 10, 2026 When the Ontario legislature returns in October, the province’s agriculture industry will have a new voice at Queen’s Park. In a Sept. 10 cabinet shuffle, Premier Ford named Sam Oosterhoff as the new minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness. He takes over for Trevor Jones, who... Read this article online
Canada Trade Tribunal Submits Report on Vegetable Imports and Potential Industry Injury Thursday, September 10, 2026 The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has submitted its report on imports of certain vegetable goods to the Governor in Council following a six-month safeguard inquiry into potential injury to Canadian producers. The Tribunal announced Sept. 9 that the report contains its... Read this article online
Canada-U.S. Trade Dispute Raises Concerns for Agri-Businesses Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Like many of their small business counterparts, Canadian agri-businesses operating across the border are warning that prolonged trade tensions could threaten their financial stability, according to a by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) that was released last... Read this article online