Progressive Conservatives win third majority in Ontario election

Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party will form its third majority government after winning a snap-election called only a month ago.

After polls closed Feb. 27, the Progressive Conservatives were projected to win 80 seats out of 124, with the New Democrats set to form the official opposition with 27 seats. The Liberal party won 14 seats, enough to keep official party status, however provincial Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie lost in her riding of Mississauga East-Cooksville to the PC’s Sylvia Gualtieri. Crombie said despite her defeat she will continue as provincial Liberal leader.

The Green Party kept its two seats in Guelph and Kitchener-Centre, and independent candidate Bobbi Ann Brady won the Norfolk-Haldimand riding.

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Olly Harrison and Davide Gomiero were recognized at Agritechnica and Eurotier for their public story telling about their farming operations.

Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness before dissolution of the legislature last month was re-elected in his riding of  Elgin-Middlesex-London. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs, was re-elected in her riding of Huron-Bruce.

The New Democrats’ most obvious choice for official opposition agriculture critic is also returning to the legislature. John Vanthof, a former dairy farmer from Earlton, has been the NDP’s ag critic since June 2014 and an MPP since 2011. He finished 1,613 votes ahead of Progressive Conservative challenger Tory Delaurier in his riding of Timiskaming-Cochrane.   

In its party platform released earlier this week, the Ontario PC party had little mention of agriculture but did vow “ to grow and support Ontario’s agriculture and agribusiness sectors”, including its  recently-announced $100 million investment into the Risk Management Program.

The PC’s platform outlined the party’s plan to continue to invest in high-speed internet for every community across the province. Rural broadband access was one of the top concerns raised by agricultural groups ahead of the election.