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: 884

▶ 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

SS400+ Road Show Update – Strong Momentum After Week Four

First few weeks into the SS400+ road show, interest keeps rising across every stop. Dealers and growers in Ontario, Michigan, and Indiana shared strong feedback. More regions now request field demos ahead of the tour schedule. Momentum keeps building as more people hear about the performance of the SS400+ Chassis Mounted Spinner Spreader. Numbers from the first three weeks show strong output. ·         Acres covered reached 3867.6 ·         Average rate reached 177.8 lb per acre ·         Total product applied reached 606,763 lb ·         Field time reached 16 hours 44 minutes ·         Ground speed held near 17 miles per hour ·         Hourly productivity reached 231.6 acres Michigan runs reached ranges between 183 and 300 acres per hour. Indiana stops reached steady output between 250 and 275 acres per hour. Every region reported consistent pattern quality, strong control across wide swaths, and smooth operation at higher speeds. Key SS400+ features drive this level of perfo

Market Trends Report – November & December 2025

US and the World It is that time of year when farmers reach the proverbial finish line, of getting that crop in the bin. The harvest of 2025 has been abundant, and it is also taking place in a very timely fashion with very good weather across the North American corn belt. At the same time there’s been a bit of a dearth of market information as the US government shutdown has meant very little in terms of information coming out from USDA. However, this all changed on November the 14th when despite the continuing governing shutdown, the USDA released their latest WASDE report. For market watchers it was a long two months without USDA numbers. Many were expecting much lower numbers in this November report. However, it seems like big supply is still winning. The USDA actually lowered corn yield .7 bushels per acre to 186 bushels per acre. This was much lower than pre report expectations. This put US domestic production at 16.752 billion bushels above the previous record of 15.34 billion b

Grain Farmers of Ontario 2025 Legacy Scholarship Recipients Awarded

Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is pleased to announce the nine recipients of the 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Scholarship. Each student will receive $5,000 to support their studies at accredited post-secondary institutions. Now in its fourth year, the Legacy Scholarship encourages the pursuit of higher education, supporting students in areas of study that will benefit the Ontario grain sector or agri-food industry. Past recipients have studied in a variety of programs across the country, including Communications, Engineering, Sciences, Equipment Repair, Economics, and Agriculture. “Grain Farmers of Ontario is dedicated to championing the success of our agricultural community members, extending our support to students looking to make a difference in Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industries,” says Jeff Harrison, chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We were a

A New Window into Canada’s Pulse Quality

We've recently launched the Pulse Quality Dashboard — a new resource that makes Canada’s investment in pulse quality research accessible and interactive. The dashboard brings together years of data showing how genetics and environment influence the quality and nutritional attributes of Canadian peas, lentils, and faba beans. Designed for food industry professionals, researchers, and stakeholders across the value chain, this tool provides a clear view into what makes Canadian pulses a leader in global markets. With the Pulse Quality Dashboard, you can: Explore detailed datasets from 2019–2023 across peas, lentils, and faba beans Understand typical ranges for key compositional and functional attributes Track variety acreage over time, nationally and by province Canada’s continued investment in pulse research keeps our industry at the forefront of quality, innovation, and transparency. The Pulse Quality Dashboard represents another step forward in making Canada’s pulse quality data op

Statement On The Launch Of The Canada – India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Today, Pulse Canada issued the following statement on behalf of President Greg Cherewyk regarding the launch of negotiations toward a Canada–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): “Pulse Canada welcomes the launch of negotiations toward an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and India. In 2024, pulses were Canada’s largest export to India. Canadian growers and exporters have built decades-long relationships across India, and renewed engagement is an important step toward greater market stability, lower barriers, and new opportunities for both countries. “A strong and predictable trading relationship is essential to achieving our shared vision of nutritional security. Pulses contribute to food security as an affordable, reliable staple, and to nutrition security by providing high-quality plant-based protein, fibre, and essential nutrients. “Pulse Canada supports a CEPA focused on tariff reduction, clear import policies, and a fram

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service