Ernie Hardeman, left, Ontario’s minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs talks to Premier Doug Ford during a visit to a Woodstock-area farm.

Province hears from farmers on carbon tax

There’s little enthusiasm from the premier on a high speed rail proposal

The provincial Conservative government is continuing its push to negate the federal carbon tax. Premier Doug Ford, Rod Phillips, minister of environment, conservation and parks and Ernie Hardeman, minister of agriculture, visited Veldale Farms near Woodstock in late March to hear from farmers about the effects of the carbon tax. The meeting was closed to […] Read more

The legalization of cannabis is expected to create thousands of new jobs — from production workers to office staff. Shown here is an Ontario marijuana facility.  (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)

Ontario delays start date of retail cannabis sales

Toronto | Reuters — Ontario’s newly elected Tory government said Monday it will delay the start date of recreational marijuana sales in the province and will allow private retailers to sell cannabis rather than government-run stores. Ontario will allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting on April 1, officials from the province’s Progressive Conservative […] Read more

Ernie Hardeman is Premier Doug Ford's choice as agriculture minister and joins many other rural MPPs in cabinet.

Rural Ontario gets half of cabinet positions

Ernie Hardeman is Ontario’s new minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. The agriculture ministry is a familiar role for Hardeman, who was agriculture minister in Mike Harris’ Conservative government from 1999 to 2001. Along with Hardeman, many other rural MPPs received significant portfolios Friday from Premier Doug Ford, bringing a voice for rural Ontarians […] Read more

Progressive Conservative (PC) leader Doug Ford attends his election night party with his wife Karla Ford (l) and their daughters following the provincial election in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 7, 2018.

Rural Ontario MPPs sweep into government

Doug Ford's PC party win in Ontario will mean an increasing voice for rural Ontarians in the new government

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party swept rural Ontario ridings, as expected, last night, on their way to a comfortable majority government. The election win for the PCs and leader Doug Ford swept away 15 years of Liberal rule. The Liberals were reduced to less than the eight seats required for official party status and Liberal […] Read more

(TobyBarrett.com)

Ontario ag minister downed in Tories’ election win

The Ontario Liberals’ minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs is among the election-night casualties as the province’s Progressive Conservatives get set to form a majority government. As of midnight CT Friday, Doug Ford’s Tories were elected or leading in 76 of 124 ridings, followed by Andrea Horwath’s New Democrats in 40 and Kathleen Wynne’s […] Read more