Liberals hope to mend rural fences | Kathleen Wynne is a gay community activist from Toronto
Ontario farmers will see their political profile rise sharply when Kathleen Wynne is sworn in as Ontario’s 25th premier, likely next week.
For the first time in the province’s history, the premier will also hold the agriculture, food and rural affairs portfolio.
“This is a win for Ontario farmers,” Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Mark Wales said. “When we talk agriculture to the government, we’ll be talking to the premier.”
Grain Farmers of Ontario vice-president John Cowan said Wynne’s decision should be seen as an attempt to restore Liberal political fortunes outside the big cities. The new premier is a Toronto community activist with little obvious connection to rural Ontario,
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Cowan said the move also recognizes that agriculture “is one of the strongest parts of the Ontario economy right now.… I hope the result is good access for agriculture and some good policy decisions.”
Wynne, Ontario’s first female and openly gay premier, won the party leadership at a late January convention. During the campaign, she made the commitment to take the agriculture portfolio for at least a year.
She will lead a minority government and face a Progressive Conservative opposition that holds most rural seats.
Farm leaders assume that much of the day-to-day farm lobby contact with government will be through the premier’s legislative assistant, yet to be named.
One possible candidate for the job is Ted McMeekin, the current agriculture minister who told farm leaders he encouraged Wynne to take the agricultural portfolio if she won.
The farm lobby is already drawing up wish lists for the new premier.
Wales said reform of outdated regulations is high on the OFA list, as are business risk management issues.
Grain Farmers of Ontario will also be pressing for a two percent bio-diesel mandate for the province.
“If we had a mandate that would apply to the province, it would boost demand for soybeans as a feedstock and create jobs at biodiesel plants,” said Cowan.
Wales said the new premier and agriculture minister will require a crash course on industry and rural issues.
Whether her decision produces electoral results for the Liberals will depend on how she performs, he added.
“The party recognizes that it cannot get a majority without recovering support it has lost in rural,” Wales said.
“Part of our role is to help educate her about the issues and the need. My members will then judge her on the results.”
