Cabinet buzz for MPP Barrett
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Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is enjoying some post-election buzz as a potential appointee to Doug Ford's inaugural cabinet.
Before the June 7 election was called, Barrett was the PC's critic of agriculture, food and rural affairs .
In an interview Friday, Haldimand Mayor Ken Hewitt said he has heard reports that Barrett is under consideration as Ontario's next agriculture minister.
"That seems to be one of the rumours going around," Hewitt said.
"He was one of two MPPs who put his support behind Ford from the start. For selfish reasons, of course, we would like to see that happen."
The Haldimand Federation of Agriculture played host to a well-attended all-candidates event in Kohler last week.
On Friday, federation president Bruce Armstrong said Ford narrowed down the list of potential agriculture ministers considerably when the premier-elect shared his preferences.
"Doug Ford is certainly on record as saying his agriculture minister will be a farmer," Armstrong said.
"That puts Toby in the running. He certainly has the background and the education.
"Agriculture could certainly use a higher profile and more press. Ontario's GDP is more based on agriculture than farming is given credit for."
Both Hewitt and Norfolk Mayor Charlie Luke are looking forward to more attention from Queen's Park. For the first time in 15 years, rural regions beyond the Greater Toronto Area are well represented on the government bench.
On Friday, Luke said he's going to let the dust settle on Thursday's election before requesting a meeting with Barrett.
At that meeting, Luke said he wants to speak about the challenges facing Norfolk County and areas where the province can help.
"I watched the results keenly," Luke said. "It seemed they were determined this time rather quickly. It took them all of 20 minutes to determine that we had a new majority government.
"The fact we have a long-experienced MPP in Toby Barrett sitting with a majority government is a good thing for the riding. It is a good thing for the county."
Luke added it is no secret that non-Liberal ridings outside the GTA have experienced a long period of neglect. The last time rural Ontario had significant representation on the government bench was 2003. Hewitt echoed similar sentiments.
"Locally, we're very excited," Hewitt said.
"We finally have a sitting member of the government. Doug Ford was in Caledonia the night before the election so he can't say he doesn't know where we are.
"We've had a hard time getting the attention of Queen's Park so this bodes well for our riding."
Unofficial results say the Ford PCs - at 76 seats - have a 14-seat majority in the 124-seat legislature.
With 40 seats, the New Democratic Party under the leadership of Andrea Horwath will serve as the official opposition.
The Ontario Liberals had a majority government heading into Thursday's vote.
By evening's end, they were reduced to seven seats. As such, Ontario Liberals have lost official party status at Queen's Park. Former leader and premier Kathleen Wynne hung onto her seat in downtown Toronto.
In Haldimand-Norfolk, unofficial results suggest a total of 50,593 votes were cast, up from 43,668 votes in 2014.
Barrett collected 28,889 votes to notch his seventh consecutive victory since 1995.
Danielle DuSablon of the NDP placed a distant second with 13,609 votes.
Liberal Dan Matten, of Hagersville, collected 4,656 votes. Anne Faulkner, of Simcoe, collected 2,095 votes on behalf of the Green Party. Five other candidates divided up the remainder.
The Ford government will be sworn in at the end of the month.
MSonnenberg@postmedia.com