The province wants to help agri-food businesses expand their online presence, while also giving families more food choices while shopping from home.
The Ford Tories are investing more than $3.2-million in the new Agri-Food Open for E-business Program.
Labour Minister and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton said this is one small way the province is helping the local agri-food businesses weather the storm of the COVID pandemic.
He said one of the positive things that will come out of COVID-19 is the growth of rural Ontario.
"We're seeing a lot of housing development happening in our small towns, we're seeing people building home based businesses, and I think there is going to be a real opportunity because of technology for [small businesses] across our area to grow because of the online presence."
McNaughton made the comment on CHOK (103.9FM/1070AM) Wednesday morning -- the full interview can be found here.
McNaughton also said there's going to be a lot of changes for businesses coming out of the pandemic.
"I mean COVID has certainly enhanced the need for high speed, reliable, broadband internet, especially in our small towns and rural communities. I think we're going to see a shift to many people working from home, offices will be different."
The province is investing about $4-billion in broadband infrastructure, which McNaughton says will be really positive for small-town Ontario.
McNaughton finished the interview on a positive note, saying Ontario is defeating this third wave of COVID-19.
"We are making huge progress and we're not weeks or months away, we're actually days away from moving forward with some really positive news and hopefully getting life more normal for people across Ontario."
For more information about the Agri-Food Open for E-business Program, click here.
