Ontario Premier Doug Ford has drawn another aggie from his existing cabinet to replace Ernie Hardeman as his agriculture minister. Ford on Friday announced a major cabinet shuffle, dropping Hardeman, the long-time MPP for Oxford, from the cabinet table and naming Lisa Thompson as minister for agriculture, food and rural affairs. Thompson, who until Friday […] Read more
Tag Archives Ernie Hardeman
Ontario names new ag minister in shuffle
Lisa Thompson replaces Ernie Hardeman
Agriculture gets numerous Ontario budget mentions
Foreign worker community settlement gets funding
Agriculture was one of the few sectors outside of health mentioned in Ontario’s 2020 budget. Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said the budget predominantly focused on health care as part of its COVID-19 response but also recognized the importance of agriculture. Why it matters: When policy-makers specifically cite agriculture in the […] Read more
Ontario bumping up Risk Management Program by $50 million
The program has been re-opened for applications until July 30
The Ontario government has come through a year earlier than expected with an additional $50 million for the provincial Risk Management Program (RMP). Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement today at Craven Farms in Chatham-Kent, as he visited farms and processors in the area. Why it matters: Several areas of Ontario agriculture have […] Read more
Cronin to lead farm products marketing commission
Pork producer has experience leading numerous agriculture groups
Amy Cronin is the new chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission. The Bluevale pork producer was recently appointed by Ernie Hardeman, Ontario minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Why it matters: The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission is responsible for the workings of farm organizations and their marketing powers in the province […] Read more
Ontario Food Terminal pushed to find more revenue, modernize
Food terminal review aims to find ways to improve its operations
The province has provided guidance to the Ontario Food Terminal after a review of its operations found it is missing some business opportunities and that its location limits its ability to expand and supply the rest of the province. The review was conducted by consulting firm MNP. Ernie Hardeman, the minister of Agriculture, Food and […] Read more
Provincial government looking into consumer harassment
More protection from trespassers needed
Recent trespassers on a Southern Alberta turkey farm continues to raise the question to farmers within Ontario and Canada as to when this type of harassment will be stopped. Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs and Premier Doug Ford recently spoke to Farmtario at the Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show about this […] Read more
Ontario launches Excellence in Agriculture program
Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced that the Excellence in Agriculture program is open for applications and now includes a new category to recognize outstanding young farmers. The Excellence in Agriculture program recognizes agri-food innovations and advancements that demonstrate leadership, product development or technology advancement that will benefit the […] Read more
Agriculture minister says progress made on reducing bureaucratic burdens
After a year in power, Ernie Hardeman touts attention to mental health by OMAFRA
The provincial Conservative government has found the first steps it has taken to reduce bureaucracy for farmers to be obvious and easy ones. After consultations “the things that were brought forward we could do without difficulty to make life easier,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs in an interview to […] Read more
Former Ontario Tory ag critic returns to file as assistant
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has added a second veteran MPP to assist Ag Minister Ernie Hardeman with the agriculture, food and rural affairs portfolio. Ford on Wednesday named Toby Barrett as parliamentary assistant to the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, with responsibility for agriculture and food. Randy Pettapiece, who since June last year […] Read more
Former OMAFRA manager appointed OPVG chair
Dave Hope succeeds Suzanne van Bommel as appointed chair of the processing vegetable board
Dave Hope has been named as the new chair of the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) board. Hope succeeds Suzanne van Bommel in the position after van Bommel’s recent resignation. Hope is a retired assistant deputy minister of OMAFRA, and a former mixed livestock farmer. He was raised on an eighth-generation farm in Ontario, said […] Read more
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