Newly appointed Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson wasn’t surprised that Premier Doug Ford prioritized rural affairs as a new standalone ministry during a June 6 cabinet shuffle. “I’ve always been consistent in representing rural Ontario and recognizing how our small towns and rural communities can continue to drive prosperity in the spirit of GDP […] Read more
Tag Archives Lisa Thompson
Q&A with Ontario’s Minister of Rural Affairs
Lisa Thompson intends to build growth in rural Ontario in her new role
New policy framework receives a mixed response
Climate resilience and production will now be tied into farm risk management programs
Federal and provincial agriculture ministers have agreed on a new five-year policy framework for agriculture and it contains climate action goals on fertilizer disliked by some ministers. Lisa Thompson, Ontario’s minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said she was disappointed by the federal government’s imposition of fertilizer emissions reduction targets when food security is […] Read more
Q&A with Minister Lisa Thompson
Farmtario sat down with Lisa Thompson, recently reappointed as Ontario’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), to ask how she will tackle pressing issues facing the Ontario agri-food sector during her next term. Q: It’s clear you are proud to represent OMAFRA, especially considering the personal attachment you have with the agri-food sector. […] Read more
Lisa Thompson returns as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Lisa Thompson was visibly emotional while swearing her oath to the 2022 Ontario Cabinet on June 24. During her short 12 months as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Huron-Bruce MPP dealt with several sector challenges, including drought conditions in northwestern Ontario, agri-food labour shortage challenges and processing capacity issues. Why it matters: […] Read more
Ontario ag minister returns in another Tory majority
Lisa Thompson retains seat in election
Ontario’s governing Progressive Conservatives will head back to the legislature with their incumbent agriculture minister at the caucus table. Lisa Thompson, Premier Doug Ford’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs since June last year, easily held her southwestern riding of Huron-Bruce in Thursday’s provincial election by a spread of 15,594 votes over Liberal challenger […] Read more
Ontario ag minister Thompson steps into new role
Focus on growing efficiencies, market share and innovation top new ag minister’s to-do list
Lisa Thompson has a quick, warm smile and a penchant for direct eye contact when engaging in conversation. Her open nature can momentarily eclipse her razor-sharp observational skills and the wealth of knowledge she brings to the table as a farmer, businessperson and politician. “I think the foundation to addressing any situation, whether it’s good […] Read more
Editorial: The two routes to agriculture minister
Lisa Thompson was recently named the new minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for Ontario, another in a line of female agriculture ministers from Huron-Bruce. I’ve known Thompson for a long time and she’s spent her life in agriculture. I remember riding the bus while I was taking the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) […] Read more
Ag industry praises Lisa Thompson’s appointment as OMAFRA minister
Industry leaders acknowledge positive contribution made by Hardeman
A provincial cabinet shuffle has planted MPP Lisa Thompson in familiar soil. Premier Doug Ford’s recent eight-person cabinet shuffle saw the Huron-Bruce representative replace Ernie Hardeman as Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “I am humbled to be given this new post and I pledge to Ontario’s agri-food sector and rural communities […] Read more
Ontario increases AgriStability compensation margin
Province calls on federal government to increase its portion of funding
[UPDATED: June 28, 2021] The Ontario government is increasing its contribution to the compensation rate for AgriStability. The move goes against the national consensus that was reached in March over the removal of the reference margin limit. However, a federal government proposal to increase the compensation rate from 80 per cent to 70 per cent […] Read more
Ontario names new ag minister in shuffle
Lisa Thompson replaces Ernie Hardeman
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