MEET THE NEW MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS BY COURTNEY DEN ARD
For centuries, farmers have learned to adapt to their changing environments by taking on new practices and new technologies. As Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Honourable Lisa Thompson has the busy job of representing Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector at the provincial level. Growing up in Huron County, Thompson has fond memories of watching her grandfather and father show Hereford cattle, as well as being a witness to her mother’s 35-year career in municipal politics. Thompson herself had a career in Ontario agriculture prior to getting into politics. She worked as a rural community advisor for OMAFRA after graduating from the University of Guelph and served as the general manager of the Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative. Thompson and her husband continue to farm on his family’s 121-year-old homestead near Teeswater in Bruce County. In June 2021, Thompson was appointed Ontario’s 40th
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Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It is a position she proudly accepted and has been working at for the past eight months. The OFVC recently caught up with Minister Thompson for an informative Q&A, taking the opportunity to meet the new minister and hearing what she’s been up to. We hope you enjoy the highlights of that conversation below. Q: How does your Ministry plan on promoting local food in Ontario? A: As Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, I am going to work very hard with my colleagues and commodity organizations to continue to grow good quality food and increase awareness of why it matters to support and buy local products. On top of that, I want to work on opening up doors for the rest of the world to benefit from the quality products that are generated in Ontario.
