Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

MPP Ted McMeekin is appointed Ontario Minister of Agriculture. What does everyone think?

Does anyone have any knowledge or opinion on this appointment?

 

Here is his bio from his website www.tedmcmeekin.com

 

Ted McMeekin is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training Colleges and Universities.

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in a byelection in 2000. He was re-elected in 2003 and 2007. He was appointed Minister of Government & Consumer Services in October 2007 and Minister of Consumer Services in  June 2009.  He previously served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministers of Education, Government Services, Consumer Services and Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Before entering provincial politics, McMeekin served as mayor of Flamborough, as a Hamilton city councillor and as a leader in several community organizations.  He has been a strong advocate for children with special education needs, seniors, the environment and community development.

McMeekin holds a MSW from Wilfrid Laurier University and serves as Assistant Practicum Professor at the university. McMeekin served as Executive Director of the Burlington Social Planning Council and Chair of Part-Time studies at Mohawk College. He was responsible for social justice issues as a regional staff person for the United Church of Canada. For eight years, he owned and operated the original and award wining Chapters bookstore in Waterdown, Ontario.

McMeekin has served as president of his local YMCA and the Hamilton-Wentworth Lung Association and as an executive volunteer with the Hamilton Mental Health Association, Operation Lifeline, Circle of Friends, Five Oaks Christian Workers Centre and the Wesley Urban Ministries. He also served on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce, coached baseball and soccer and served overseas as a YMCA volunteer.

McMeekin lives in Waterdown with his wife, Dr. Barbara McMeekin. They have three daughters.

 

Views: 904

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on October 20, 2011 at 8:31am


TedMcMeekin 
6 mins 15 secs ago 
Twitter
Getting sworn in as Ontario's new Minister of Agriculture
 #onpoli
 #HamOnt 
yfrog.com/kln7k2jLooking forward to working with
 #ontag

 

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on October 20, 2011 at 8:39am

OFA welcomes Minister McMeekin to agriculture (2011)

Premier McGuinty has declared that his focus for the 40th Parliament of Ontario is to “guide Ontario through global uncertainty by focusing on building a strong Ontario economy.” And he’s already begun construction with the recent announcement of the new Cabinet. Although it is a smaller Cabinet than past years (22 versus 28), the Ministers all bring significant experience.

 

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) looks forward to working with all Cabinet members as we pursue the Premier’s goal of strengthening Ontario’s economy. We will work with key ministries to grow our industry and improve the lives of Ontarians. OFA will focus particular efforts with Environment, Natural Resources, Finance, Education, Economic development, Energy and Health Ministries.

 

OFA congratulates the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister McMeekin. He represents the Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough and Westdale regions.

Minister McMeekin has worked with constituent farmers over his term of service and is familiar with the farm, and agri-food priorities. His Cabinet experience will help him promote the interests of Ontario’s agri-food sector, an important economic engine.

 

We also extend congratulations to all newly appointed Cabinet Ministers – especially Jim Bradley, Minister of the Environment; Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier; Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy; and Michael Gravelle, Minister of Natural Resources. We look forward to working with Minister McMeekin and his colleagues on the wide array of files important to agriculture and agri-food to realize the Premier’s vision of a stronger economy and a caring society.

 

Although the new McGuinty government doesn’t bring a lot of representation from rural Ontario, OFA is confident that our new agriculture Minister will bring the necessary skills in listening, consensus building, the ability to keep a strong rein on the ministry and a desire for achievement along with the respect of Cabinet colleagues. The agricultural portfolio has gained a lot of attention in recent years and OFA looks forward to a new working relationship with all our ministries.

 

 

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on October 20, 2011 at 9:12am

GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO CONGRATULATES NEW MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE TED MCMEEKIN

GUELPH, ON (October 20, 2011) –

Grain Farmers of Ontario is pleased with the appointment of Ted McMeekin to the position of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

 

Minister McMeekin has been a long time supporter of farmers in Ontario and an advocate for our Risk

Management Program since the pilot program was introduced in 2007. With his extensive experience

as a minister, parliamentary secretary and in his municipality we are confident Minister McMeekin will

be a strong leader for our agricultural industry.

 

“Our organization has many exciting new initiatives in market development and research that will

benefit the province of Ontario,” says Don Kenny Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We look forward

to meeting with Minister McMeekin to discuss the many ways we can work together to ensure the

success of the Ontario grain industry.”

 

Opportunities for market growth for Ontario’s grain farmers to discuss with the new minister will

include a provincial bio-diesel mandate to match the federal two percent mandate announced earlier

this year, a united strategy for research and market development, a Capital Cost Allowance

acceleration for capital purchases and a tax credit for certified seed.

 

“Ontario’s grain farmers will be pleased with this announcement,” continues Kenny. “Minister

McMeekin is a supporter of his local farmers through a local food campaign and this support will now

extend right across the province.”


-

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on November 9, 2011 at 11:12am




OMAFRA
Minster Ted McMeekin is introduced to agriculture’s finest at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Water Stewardship: A Ranching Family’s Approach to Conservation and Changing Landscapes

Nestled in the arid South Okanagan, Thomas Ranches is a multigenerational operation that balances ranching with conservation. In 2000, the Thomas family sold their land to The Nature Trust of British Columbia, preserving natural habitat while continuing cattle operations under a lease agreement. Today, Brian Thomas manages 200 head of cattle on 350 acres, with the remaining 1,650 acres dedicated to wildlife habitat. Effective water management is crucial to sustaining both livestock and the surrounding ecosystem in this dry region. Balancing Water Needs in a Shifting Landscape Thomas Ranches relies on a creek-fed storage dam and an extensive irrigation system. This helps them manage water shortages in a dry climate that gets less than a foot of annual rainfall. Frequent droughts have intensified competition for water resources, and the impacts of increasing population growth, tourism and conservation efforts place additional demands on an already limited supply. Wildfires also pose o

International Association for Food Protection Elects Maria Hoffmann to Executive Board

Members of the International Association for Food Protection elected Dr. Maria Hoffmann to the Executive Board as Secretary. Dr. Hoffmann will take office at the conclusion of IAFP 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and will fulfill a five-year commitment to the Association, serving as President beginning in July 2029. Dr. Hoffmann is a Genomics Research Scientist in the Human Foods Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Washington, D.C., where she leads national- and internationally-recognized initiatives to advance the genomic epidemiology of foodborne pathogens. Over the past two decades, she has worked at the intersection of science, public health, and food safety policy, developing advanced genomic methods, building global networks, and strengthening outbreak detection through whole genome sequencing (WGS). She began her public health career at the Institute for Hygiene and Environment in Hamburg before joining the FDA in 2007. An active IAFP Member since 2014, D

Canadian government commits to national soil health strategy

The federal government will work with a national organization to support soil health across the country

Nebraska fires burn grazing lands, threaten plans to grow US cattle herd

Wildfires burn nearly 775,000 acres in Nebraska Land is a grazing resource for about 40,000 cows Producers look for alternative pasture lands, feed Massive wildfires have burned vast swaths of grazing lands in Nebraska, endangering cattle producers' plans for production increases that could help ease record-high U.S. ?beef prices. The loss of grasslands in the second-biggest cattle-producing state removes a feed source for herds and could delay ranchers ?from expanding as they struggle with widespread drought, state and industry officials said. Fueled by fierce winds, fires have burned nearly 775,000 acres since last week, covering an area about the size of Rhode Island, according to data from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. It added the causes of the fires are undetermined. The largest Morrill Fire was ?about 67% contained as of Thursday after being first reported on March 12, the agency said. That amount of land is a grazing ?resource for about 40,000 cows, said Sherry

Canada offers financial aid to farmers and companies affected by Iran war price spikes

Canada's federally backed farm lender is offering financial aid ?to farmers, agricultural businesses and food ?companies hit by the spike in fertilizer and energy prices, it said on Friday. Borrowers from the ?Farm Credit Canada program will be ?able to receive a new or additional ?credit line of up to C$500,000 ($364,670.70), ?to modify terms and to defer principal ?payments on existing loans. The money will come from an expansion of the Trade Disruption Customer Support Program, ?which was introduced in March 2025 to ?help agriculture and food borrowers hit by U.S. tariffs. It will ?now ?also provide support to help producers and agribusinesses "manage financial pressures caused by unexpected market shocks," Friday's statement said. Fertilizer prices have soared ?since the Iran ?war began ?at the end of February and led to the closure ?of the Strait of Hormuz to ?most ?shipping, disrupting urea and sulphur supplies from the Gulf. As a result, farmers around the world are ?strugg

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service