February 22, 2024

The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance applauds the Ontario government's introduction of the Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, 2024. 

Flamboro, February 22, 2024

The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance welcomes today’s introduction of the Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, 2024. The legislation is an important signal from the Ontario government that provides needed clarity on the provinces managed and practical transition towards electrification and a net zero energy grid. This legislation will ensure that Ontario’s energy transition is practical and inclusive of a broader range of economic and social impact considerations.

Included in the legislation is equally important direction to ensure that future Ontario Energy Board decisions provide opportunity for a broader range of engagement and testimony from sectors and stakeholders that will be impacted by OEB decisions.

“Ontario’s greenhouse sector is a critical part of our domestic food and agriculture security and a leader in sustainability and production innovation, said Jan VanderHout, president of the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance. I applaud the government for introducing this legislation and ensuring that sectors like ours have an opportunity to participate in future decisions of the OEB”.

“The challenges of agriculture and food production around the world – providing safe, affordable, sustainable and secure agriculture products – means providing more of Ontario’s greenhouse products to consumers here at home and around the world”, said George Gilvesy, Chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. “I’d like to thank the Ontario government for this legislation ensuring a fair and managed approach to Ontario’s energy transition”.

“TOGA and its members will be active participants in supporting Ontario’s energy transition”, said Ed Vermolen, President of Flowers Canada (Ontario). We will remain a committed partner to shared, sustainable and secure agriculture production with a relentless mission to our continued success here at home and around the world”.

About TOGA

The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance (TOGA) represents Flowers Canada (Ontario) (FCO) and Ontario’s Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). Together we represent more than two thirds of Canada’s greenhouse production with almost 1,700 farms, working nearly 5000 acres of production and employing more than 38,000 people across Ontario. We fundamentally believe that greenhouse farms are good for food security and good for sustainable prosperity.

The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance (TOGA) is a strategic partnership between the two organizations representing Ontario’s greenhouse floriculture growers and Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable growers. We represent more than two thirds of Canada’s greenhouse production with almost 1,700 farms, working nearly 5000 acres of production and employing more than 38,000 people across Ontario. We fundamentally believe that greenhouse farms are good for food security and good for sustainable prosperity.