Ernie Hardeman
Encyclopedia
Ernie Hardeman 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
.
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
, 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. 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. As Minister, he replaced agricultural offices with the Agricultural Information Contact Centre. He was removed from cabinet on February 7, 2001. On February 25, 2003, he returned to cabinet in the new position of Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with responsibility for Rural Affairs.
Hardeman was re-elected in the 2003 election
. 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 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.
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.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
, representing the rural riding of Oxford
Oxford (electoral district)
Oxford is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since the 1935 election.It consists of the county of Oxford....
for the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
.
Hardeman was the owner and operator of Hardeman Feed Limited, established in Salford, Ontario from 1966 to 1995. He served as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
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
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is a non-profit organization representing municipal and regional governments in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created on June 22, 1972 through a merger of the Ontario Municipal Association and the Ontario Association of Mayors and Reeves...
.
Hardeman was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
, defeating incumbent New Democrat Kimble Sutherland
Kimble Sutherland
Kimble Sutherland is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.-Ontario Legislator:...
by about 8000 votes. The Progressive Conservatives under Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
won the election, and Hardeman was a government backbencher for the next four years. In 1996, he was commissioned by the government to conduct a survey on the possible amalgamation of Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
into a united municipality.
He was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on June 17, 1999. As Minister, he replaced agricultural offices with the Agricultural Information Contact Centre. He was removed from cabinet on February 7, 2001. On February 25, 2003, he returned to cabinet in the new position of Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with responsibility for Rural Affairs.
Hardeman was re-elected in the 2003 election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. He supported Jim Flaherty
Jim Flaherty
James Michael "Jim" Flaherty, PC, MP is Canada's Minister of Finance and he has also served as Ontario's Minister of Finance. From 1995 until 2005, he was the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby—Ajax, and a member of the Progressive Conservative Party caucus...
'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 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.
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.