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Kathleen Wynne splits Ontario Agriculture Portfolio in Surprising Twist

Wynne becomes Minister of Agriculture and hands off Rural Affairs Portfolio to Jeff Leal

By , Farms.com

As anticipated, at the official swearing-in ceremony, Kathleen Wynne became Ontario’s first female Premier and she also became Minister of Agriculture. What wasn’t so expected was that Kathleen Wynne split the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs portfolio into two, spinning off the Rural Affairs portion of the portfolio to new comer Jeff Leal, MPP from Peterborough. Leal was first elected in 2003 and holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Trent University. The Ministerial portfolio was previously held by Ted McMeekin who is now the new Minster of Community and Social Services.

More than half of the Liberal caucus is now in cabinet – 27 cabinet positions; but there are 20 new members of the cabinet, and only seven veteran and experienced cabinet ministers remain.   


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Ag Matters Podcast - Episode 2: Why Public Trust Matters

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In this episode, we explore the topic of public trust in agriculture with two incredible guests: Susie Miller from the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops and Jackie Dudgeon-MacDonald, a lifelong farmer and advocate for Canadian farming.

Susie provides insights into the role of policy and industry standards in supporting sustainability and transparency, highlighting how collaborative efforts shape Canadian crops' future. Jackie shares her unique experience as a farmer managing grain and cattle operations, balancing family life, and navigating direct-to-consumer relationships. Together, they unpack the meaning of public trust, the importance of transparency in farming practices, and how meaningful connections with consumers can strengthen the bond between farmers and the public.

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