Ontario farmers facing uncertainty amid tariffs and trade challenges
By: Philip Oddi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: Vankleek Hill Review, Sep 5, 2025
Ontario farmers are facing growing uncertainty as U.S. tariffs and global trade tensions are weighing heavily on their operations. Rising production costs, volatile markets, and the stress of maintaining farm stability have many producers concerned about their finances and personal well-being.
Producers in Ontario’s $51 billion agri-food industry are among the most vulnerable due to heavy reliance on export markets, particularly Canada’s largest trading partner, the United States. Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) President Drew Spoelstra says this reliance makes farmers highly sensitive during trade negotiations.
Changes in U.S. and Chinese trade policies have caused price fluctuations and higher production costs, creating ripple effects across Ontario’s agri-food chain. The U.S. currently imposes 25 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminum, and imports from outside CUSMA, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
China has imposed a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and a 75.8 per cent anti-dumping duty on canola seed, according to the Canola Council of Canada. The Canada-China Business Council said that China has also imposed a 25 per cent tariff on pork.
Spoelstra highlighted the real-world impacts on the province’s producers: “The level of uncertainty is almost unbearable at times. Constant change continues to create unique challenges for producers,” he said. Spoelstra added that all sectors are affected differently, with greenhouse crops, meat processing, and livestock particularly exposed to tariffs.
The OFA continues to advocate for farmers at all levels of government, pushing for “expanded market opportunities, protection of supply management, and potential enhancements to financial programs to mitigate ongoing market disruptions,” Spoelstra said.
Both federal and provincial governments say they are actively supporting farmers. Measures include increasing the Risk Management Program by $100 million to $250 million, funding through AgriMarketing to access new markets, and promoting buy local and buy Canadian movements.
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones emphasized that under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the government has invested $569 million to support more than 1,500 projects improving productivity, safety, environmental sustainability, and competitiveness.
“Our government will always be on the side of our agri-food industry and farmers. I will continue to build on the progress our government has achieved to ensure the sector has the support it needs to withstand anything that comes our way,” Jones said.
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Stéphane Sarrazin echoed this commitment, noting efforts to promote buy local initiatives and reduce interprovincial trade barriers to strengthen Ontario’s rural economy.
As trade negotiations continue, officials and the OFA say they will stay closely engaged with producers. “The agricultural community is one of my highest priorities, and I will continue to work very hard to bring Ottawa to our community,” said Member of Parliament for Prescott-Russell-Cumberland Giovanna Mingarelli.
Mingarelli said she wants to strongly encourage local businesses to work together and support one another as producers face these challenges.
Beyond financial pressures, the mental well-being of producers is also a pressing concern.
Spoelstra emphasized the importance of mental health during trying times. “There are resources available for farmers, farm families, and workers, including a 24/7 counselling service with experts who understand agriculture,” he said.
Programs like the Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative, developed by Impact Canada under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, aim to support farmers whose work often extends beyond a standard 9-5 schedule and is rooted in family tradition.
Impact Canada states that Canadian producers face unique mental health and well-being challenges, many of which are compounded or heightened by the stressful and unpredictable nature of their work. In addition, stress in farming has been linked to a rise in farm work injuries and a higher risk of suicide.
Mingarelli pointed to the Do More Agriculture Foundation, a federal partner organization that offers AgTalk, a clinically supported and anonymous platform for producers to connect, share experiences, and access mental health resources.As global trade tensions persist, governments and producer organizations say they will continue to prioritize financial support and mental health resources to help Ontario farmers weather the uncertainty.
‘Brand-new experience’: Horseshoe Heights welcomes students for the first time
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com
Sporting fresh haircuts and looking dapper for the opening day of the new Horseshoe Heights Public School in Oro-Medonte, brothers Declan and Gallagher were both feeling a little bit nervous and a whole lot excited this morning.
Declan, who was making his Grade 3 debut, was excited about seeing the friends he hasn’t seen since the end of June and making new ones. He was also pretty excited about exploring his new school, which is almost twice the size of his previous one.
“I already know some of the other kids in my class,” Declan told BarrieToday. “I’m going to make new friends and check out the big gym.”
His younger brother, Gallagher, who was entering Day 1 of senior kindergarten, had fewer expectations. He was looking forward to just one thing.
“I’m going in the elevator,” Gallagher declared, shortly after his parents Rebecca and Brandon took a photo of the boys posed in front of the school, under the Horseshoe Heights nameplate that graces the west side of the new facility on Horseshoe Valley Road, just north of Barrie.
They, too, shared the boys’ sense of excitement.
“They had a sneak peak before today and they loved it,” Rebecca said. “It’s got big bright windows and bright classrooms, and it’s only five minutes away from home.”
Rebecca and Brandon live in Sugarbush, a community about five minutes east of the new school, just off Horseshoe Valley Road. For them, and other families in the area, Horseshoe Heights is a dream come true.
“We came from Guthrie Public School, so this is very close to home,” said Heather McGowan, another Sugarbush resident who accompanied her two children to school on the first day. “It’s a mixed bag of emotions, but I think we’re more excited than the kids.”
McGowan said her children, who are in grades one and three, are thrilled to be going to the new school — not only because it’s close to home, but also because their friends will be going there.
“There’s a strong sense of community here,” McGowan said. “We’re excited.”
According to Liz Grummett, Simcoe County District School Board trustee for Oro-Medonte/Springwater, Tuesday’s opening day was not only important to students and teachers, but the community as a whole.
She said the school and the attached community centre is an example of what can happen when groups or organizations work together.
“We have a wonderful partnership with Oro-Medonte,” Grummett said. “We have a community centre that is part of our school and it gives us this incredible space.
“There’s a real sense of ownership among the parents and there’s a lot of pride. You can see it when you talk to them. They’re engaged and it shows,” she added.
Oro-Medonte Township bought the land the school sits on in 2013 with the hope of building a community centre on the site. In the years following the purchase, the township made it known to the school board that it was interested in forming a partnership if the opportunity presented itself.
In 2017, the township and the Simcoe County District School Board formalized an agreement. One year later, the new school was announced, with original approval for 357 students at a cost of $8.5 million. In 2023, the tender to build the school was issued.
The price of the facility had increased to $23.8 million and it would accommodate 570 students — which is 213 more than originally projected.
Bianca and Corey live in Craighurst, a few kilometres west of the new Horseshoe Heights school. Their two daughters, Hazel and Elliot, are entering Grade 1 and Grade 3, respectively. They’ve been anxiously waiting for their first day.
“It was tough to get them to bed last night,” Corey said as the couple waited at the school for the bus that picked up their children earlier in the morning for their inaugural trip to drop them off.
“We’re meeting them when they get off the bus for the first time,” Bianca said. “This is a whole, brand-new experience.”
According to Dianna Wright-Drzazga, the principal at Horseshoe Heights, the school is new, but the staff is not. In fact, she said, the staff that has been assembled is filled with some of the school board’s most senior teachers.
“When I was looking to hire, I was told by colleagues to expect 10 or 15 applications per vacancy,” she said. “This was more like 65 or 70. We have a very experienced staff.”
According to Wright-Drzazga, the first few days will be more social than academic.
“For the first couple of days, we’re just going to get to know each other,” she said. “Academics will be on the back burner for a couple of days.”
Local Brokerage Honoured with Prestigious National Award
By Don Stoddart Principal Broker, Owner – Sep 8, 2025
Elmvale, Ontario – Key Mortgage Partners, headquartered at 10 Queen Street West in Elmvale, has earned one of the most prestigious distinctions in the mortgage industry: Best Brokerage in Canada, presented by Canadian Mortgage Professionals.
This national recognition highlights excellence in client service, industry leadership, and innovation within the mortgage sector. For a local business to achieve this honour on the Canadian stage speaks volumes about the strength of its team, its dedication to clients, and its ongoing contributions to the community.
Key Mortgage Partners, led by long-time industry veteran Don Stoddart, has become well known for delivering outstanding mortgage solutions and building trusted relationships with both lenders and clients. Beyond business success, the firm has also made its mark by supporting charitable causes and giving back to the community.
“This recognition belongs to our entire team, our clients, and our industry partners,” said Stoddart. “It’s proof that when you combine experience, passion, and integrity, you can achieve something truly remarkable.”
Stoddart himself is no stranger to recognition. In recent years, he has been inducted into the Mortgage Professionals Canada Hall of Fame, the Canadian Mortgage Professionals Hall of Fame, and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Mortgage Professionals Canada.
Receiving the title of Best Brokerage in Canada solidifies Key Mortgage Partners’ position as an industry leader and shines a spotlight on Elmvale as the proud home of one of the nation’s top mortgage brokerages.
Officials from Simcoe County and Springwater Township officially opened the new Simcoe County paramedic post on Snow Valley Road in Midhurst on Wednesday afternoon
By Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It’s a simple utilitarian building with the basic necessities — a small work space to write reports, a washroom, crew space and a two-bay garage.
Simcoe County’s latest paramedic post is now open and responding to calls.
Located on Snow Valley Road in Midhurst, about one kilometre west of Bayfield Street, the new paramedic post replaces the previous building which was located near the Barrie city limits.
“We have five posts strategically based through the city of Barrie,” Sarah Mills, director and chief of Simcoe County Paramedic Services, told BarrieToday at the official opening of the Springwater Township post this afternoon.
“This one is replacing the Barrie North one and it’s based on our planning, data collection and projected growth. We look at all of that data and we strategically place them throughout the county,” she said. “This the second of five that are going to be built through the Barrie area.”
According to Mills, paramedic stations and posts are established in areas where the service sees the greatest need.
“We try to very strategically position them in those high call volume areas,” she said.
The Springwater facility, which cost $3.8 million to build, is part of what’s called the “hub-and-spoke model,” Mills said.
It’s also been referred to as the “hub-and-post model.”
She said the model allows the county to utilize the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus — which is the hub — on Fairview Road in Barrie as a centralized headquarters, while placing smaller “posts’ in more locations around the county to address growth and call volume needs.
“Posts are smaller builds than our normal stations,” Mills said. “They’re not meant for people to book on and off. Our people don’t start and end their day here. They start at our main location in Barrie on Fairview (Road).
“There, they grab their ambulance and they come out to these posts and we have rotating coverage,” she added.
Paramedic stations are located in Alliston, Angus, Beeton, Bradford, Coldwater, Collingwood, Craighurst, Elmvale, Midland, Orillia, Stayner, Stroud, Wasaga Beach and Washago.
Posts, meanwhile, are located in Adjala-Tosorontio, Alcona, Barrie Central East, Brechin, Springwater, Oro and Tottenham.
Since 2010, the county’s paramedic services constructed new bases and posts in Alliston, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford, Collingwood, Elmvale, Orillia and Stayner.
A new paramedic station is scheduled to be built in Tay Township in 2025-26, and a new Waubaushene station is scheduled to replace the leased facility in Coldwater.
According to Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke, county paramedics responded to more than 87,000 calls for service last year — about 240 calls per day, seven days a week.
“It is a shocking number when you first hear it,” Clarke said during an interview following today’s official opening. “But when you start to think about it, it’s reflective of a growing population, one that’s aging slightly, especially in the northern parts of our community where it’s more retirees.
“It shows the need for buildings like this, because we’re getting busier every single year,” he added.
Clarke praised the sparseness of the facility.
“They’re building a shell, really,” he said. “That’s all it is. You wheel in, you get a quick coffee, a quick break, restock your ambulance and get back on the road.
“It’s a drive-through building because they’re never here long enough to take a break.”
County’s newest paramedic post opens on Snow Valley Rd. in Midhurst
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com, Sep 03, 2025
It’s a simple utilitarian building with the basic necessities — a small work space to write reports, a washroom, crew space and a two-bay garage.
Simcoe County’s latest paramedic post is now open and responding to calls.
Located on Snow Valley Road in Midhurst, about one kilometre west of Bayfield Street, the new paramedic post replaces the previous building which was located near the Barrie city limits.
“We have five posts strategically based through the city of Barrie,” Sarah Mills, director and chief of Simcoe County Paramedic Services, told BarrieToday at the official opening of the Springwater Township post this afternoon.
“This one is replacing the Barrie North one and it’s based on our planning, data collection and projected growth. We look at all of that data and we strategically place them throughout the county,” she said. “This the second of five that are going to be built through the Barrie area.”
According to Mills, paramedic stations and posts are established in areas where the service sees the greatest need.
“We try to very strategically position them in those high call volume areas,” she said.
The Springwater facility, which cost $3.8 million to build, is part of what’s called the “hub-and-spoke model,” Mills said.
It’s also been referred to as the “hub-and-post model.”
She said the model allows the county to utilize the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus — which is the hub — on Fairview Road in Barrie as a centralized headquarters, while placing smaller “posts’ in more locations around the county to address growth and call volume needs.
“Posts are smaller builds than our normal stations,” Mills said. “They’re not meant for people to book on and off. Our people don’t start and end their day here. They start at our main location in Barrie on Fairview (Road).
“There, they grab their ambulance and they come out to these posts and we have rotating coverage,” she added.
Paramedic stations are located in Alliston, Angus, Beeton, Bradford, Coldwater, Collingwood, Craighurst, Elmvale, Midland, Orillia, Stayner, Stroud, Wasaga Beach and Washago.
Posts, meanwhile, are located in Adjala-Tosorontio, Alcona, Barrie Central East, Brechin, Springwater, Oro and Tottenham.
Since 2010, the county’s paramedic services constructed new bases and posts in Alliston, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford, Collingwood, Elmvale, Orillia and Stayner.
A new paramedic station is scheduled to be built in Tay Township in 2025-26, and a new Waubaushene station is scheduled to replace the leased facility in Coldwater.
According to Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke, county paramedics responded to more than 87,000 calls for service last year — about 240 calls per day, seven days a week.
“It is a shocking number when you first hear it,” Clarke said during an interview following today’s official opening. “But when you start to think about it, it’s reflective of a growing population, one that’s aging slightly, especially in the northern parts of our community where it’s more retirees.
“It shows the need for buildings like this, because we’re getting busier every single year,” he added.
Clarke praised the sparseness of the facility.
“They’re building a shell, really,” he said. “That’s all it is. You wheel in, you get a quick coffee, a quick break, restock your ambulance and get back on the road.
“It’s a drive-through building because they’re never here long enough to take a break.”
May Court Awards $10,000
On August 22, 2025 the May Court Shop celebrated the May Court Club of Barrie awarding five students with $2,000 each towards their future endeavors in College, University and Trade Schools.
New Path and EarlyON Centre Partnering to Bring Free In-Person Counselling to Midland
Midland, ON – New Path Youth and Family Services (New Path) and the EarlyON Centre in Midland are partnering to offer free, in-person single and brief counselling sessions for children and youth in Midland, in addition to the virtual services already being offered in the community. These in-person services will be available on Tuesdays between 9 am and 4:30 pm at the Midland EarlyON location at 356 King Street beginning on September 9, 2025.
“Our agency is excited to welcome New Path as they begin offering early years and in-person brief mental health supports in our community at our EarlyON Centre in Midland,” says Christine VanderByl, Executive Director EarlyON Child and Family Centre – Simcoe North.
To access in-person counselling support in Midland or at any locations throughout Simcoe County (in-person, by phone and online) book an appointment through the New Path website: www.newpath.ca/book-now, by calling: 705-725-7656 or emailing: info@newpath.ca