Ernie Hardeman

Ernie Hardeman (born 4 December) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the rural riding of Oxford for the Progressive Conservative Party.^[1]

Hardeman was the owner and operator of Hardeman Feed Limited, established in Salford, Ontario from 1966 to 1995. He served as Mayor of the Township of Southwest Oxford from 1988 to 1994, was chair of the Wardens' Association of Ontario in 1990–91, and served as a Board Member on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

Hardeman was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995,^[1][2] defeating incumbent New Democrat Kimble Sutherland by about 8000 votes. The Progressive Conservatives under Mike Harris won the election, and Hardeman was a government backbencher for the next four years.^[1] In 1996, he was commissioned by the government to conduct a survey on the possible amalgamation of Hamilton, Ontario into a united municipality.

He was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election, and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on June 17, 1999.^[1][2] As Minister, he replaced agricultural offices with the Agricultural Information Contact Centre. He was removed from cabinet on February 7, 2001.^[1] On February 25, 2003, he returned to cabinet in the new position of Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing,^[1] with responsibility for Rural Affairs.

Hardeman was re-elected in the 2003 election.^[1][2] He supported Jim Flaherty's unsuccessful bid for the Progressive Conservative party's leadership in 2004. On June 13, 2005 Hardeman's private members bill, Farm Implements Amendment Act, received third reading and royal assent.

In 2007 Hardeman was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term^[1][2] making him the longest serving MPP in Oxford's history. He served as Deputy House Leader and was then promoted to Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies. He is also the PC critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.^[1]

On June 16, 2008 Hardeman introduced a private member's bill which allows farmers to post seasonal, directional signage along provincial highways to advertise their Ontario grown produce and direct consumers to the farm. The bill was supported by many agricultural groups and unanimously passed first, second and third reading. On December 10, 2008 Signage to Promote Ontario Produced Agricultural Products Act received royal assent and became law.^[3]

Hardeman's nephew, John Vanthof, is a current sitting MPP for the New Democratic Party and behind his uncle in the legislature.^[4]

References