New Minister could have much to catch up on regarding agriculture
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Farms.com
Changes to the Ontario cabinet were announced Monday morning at Queen’s Park.
Glen Murray resigned from the position of Minister of Environment and Climate Change, according to an Ontario release. Chris Ballard, who was previously the Minister of Housing and the Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, replaces Murray.
Ballard, first elected in 2014 as the MPP for Newmarket-Aurora, brings a variety of experiences to the table, including being past president of the Public Affairs Association of Canada, teaching part-time at Centennial College and working on Indigenous issues with Dene and Gwich’in organizations in northern Canada.
Keith Currie, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, believes that the new role will involve a learning curve for Ballard.
“He’s going to have to get up to speed on where (the Ministry) is at,” said Currie.
“With respect to agriculture, that will include (becoming familiar with) the phosphorus reduction initiatives in the Lake Erie basin, climate change, voluntary offset protocols, and food and organic waste (plans).”
While Murray will continue to serve as MPP for Toronto Centre for a few more weeks, he’ll be leaving politics this fall.
Murray will become the executive director of the Pembina Institute, a clean energy think-tank, in September. He will replace current director Ed Whittingham.
In light of the cabinet shuffles, Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement Monday:
"With the resignation of Glen Murray from cabinet, we are taking advantage of the depth of talent in our caucus and making sure that our government can continue to work together to make a difference in people’s lives. I want to thank Glen for the dedication he has always shown to his constituents and to people across Ontario as a cabinet minister. I also want to thank the ministers appointed today for taking on these new responsibilities. I know the entire team looks forward to working together in this cabinet to build a fairer, better Ontario."
Peter Milczyn, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, was promoted to the cabinet to fill Ballard’s previous positions.
Ontario’s cabinet remains at its previous size of 29 ministers after Monday’s announcements.
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