Wynne affirms intention to take on Ontario's agriculture ministry

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

Ontario Premier-designate Kathleen Wynne affirmed her intention to take on the agriculture ministry as part of her job when she and her cabinet are sworn in on Monday.

Wynne made the comments while touring a vegetable operation, Gwillimdale Farms in Bradford in the Holland Marsh this morning. Along with touring the farm, Wynne met with municipal officials and agricultural industry representatives.

Wynne, the MPP for Don Valley West in Toronto, told reporters during a question period she’s been asked about how she can take on the agriculture ministry when she lives in downtown Toronto. But Wynne says the Premier and the agriculture minister must understand the whole province. There isn’t a distinction between the needs of people living in downtown urban centres, such as Toronto or Windsor, and those living in rural communities, such as Meaford or Tillsonburg.

She also notes her family comes from a farm with her dad spending every summer on a farm in Watford. His family still lives there and his cousins still farm the land, she says. BF