On Thursday, April 11, 2019, Ontario Pork’s Leadership Training Group – Class 2018/19 participated in the government relations training session held at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Participants met with Hon. Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, MPP for Oxford, Randy Pettapiece, MPP for Perth-Wellington, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Hon. Lisa, Thompson, Minister of Education, MPP for Huron- Bruce, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, and Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry. 

With an objective of developing a next generation of pork industry leaders, Ontario Pork created a unique training approach exposing leadership course participants to a variety of areas such as business leadership, communications, and government policy making. Hearing first-hand from MPPs about the government, their experiences, interests, and ideas was one of the program highlights. This session concludes the 2018/19 program. Pork producers, interested in enrolling in the 2019/20, are encouraged to contact Ontario Pork.