Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Government ag critics weigh in on new premier juggling agriculture role

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

In an open letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman argues that the dual role of premier and agriculture minister “will result in agriculture and rural Ontario being shortchanged.”

Hardeman, who has been the PC ag critic for “six or seven years,” calls Wynne the “part-time” minister of agriculture. He said Wednesday Wynne had not yet responded to the letter he sent two days earlier, adding, “I just don’t imagine the agricultural issues are going to be that high on the agenda in the premier’s office.”

However, NDP ag critic John Vanthof, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane, thinks having the premier wear two hats could be a good thing.

“The test is in what actually happens,” Vanthof says. “If she just announces it (her appointment as ag minister) and kind of ignores it, then it’s going to be a disaster. If she actually takes the time and puts things in place that she can try and make it work, I think maybe we could get some things done.”

He says his past experience – he has been ag critic for 18 months – is that when you try to work with the ministry of agriculture they might say they want to accomplish something but argue they are being blocked in the premier’s office.

“Well,” Vanthof says, “if they are the same person, maybe we can remove a couple of roadblocks.” BF

Current Issue

August 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Soil Compaction Challenges

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Ontario’s spring planting faced challenges from soil compaction, impacting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Despite some areas experiencing rapid planting under ideal conditions, other regions, even those with lighter soils, struggled due to excessive rainfall. The team at OMAFA –on... Read this article online

2026 Grains Innovation Fund is now open

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now accepting applications for its . “This year marks another exciting chapter for the Grains Innovation Fund,” stated Paul... Read this article online

Applications Open for Grains Innovation Fund 2026

Monday, July 28, 2025

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing 28,000 farmers, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund offers grants up to $75,000 to support innovative projects that promote the use of Ontario’s grains such as... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top