Lisa Thompson (politician)

Lisa M. Thompson (born c. 1965) is a Canadian politician who is the Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs in the Doug Ford government since June 18, 2021. She has represented the riding of Huron—Bruce in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a member of the Progressive Conservatives since 2011.

The Honourable
Lisa Thompson
MPP
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Assumed office
June 18, 2021
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byErnie Hardeman
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
In office
June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byBill Walker
Succeeded byRoss Romano
Minister of Education
In office
June 29, 2018 – June 20, 2019
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byIndira Naidoo-Harris
Succeeded byStephen Lecce
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Huron—Bruce
Assumed office
October 6, 2011
Preceded byCarol Mitchell
Personal details
Born1965 (age 57–58)
Wingham, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseDennis Schiestel
ResidenceTeeswater, Ontario
OccupationDairy Goat cooperative General Manager

She previously served as Ontario minister of education from 2018 to 2019 and as Ontario minister of government and consumer services from 2019 to 2021.

Background

Thompson was born in Wingham, Ontario. She is a graduate of the University of Guelph. Prior to her election as an MPP, she worked as the general manager of The Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative, and as a Rural Community Advisor for OMAFRA. She lives near Teeswater, Ontario with her husband Dennis.[1][2]

Politics

Thompson ran in the 2011 provincial election as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Huron—Bruce. She defeated Liberal incumbent Carol Mitchell by 4,479 votes.[1][3] She was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election, defeating Liberal candidate Colleen Schenk by 3,882 votes,[4] and in the 2018 provincial election, defeating Jan Johnstone of the NDP by 12,320 votes.

She has served as the party's critic for Environment and Climate Change, critic for Energy(Green Energy Act) and critic for Small Business and Red Tape.

In February 2017, she was appointed as the PC party's Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Critic for International Trade.[5]

In January 2018, after party leader Patrick Brown stepped down and was replaced by Vic Fedeli, Thompson was chosen as the party's new caucus chair.[6]

Following the 2018 provincial election, Lisa Thompson was named Minister of Education in Premier Doug Ford's cabinet.[7] On June 20, 2019, she was reassigned as Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Since June, 2021 Lisa has served as 40th Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Electoral record
2018 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeLisa Thompson27,64652.36
New DemocraticJan Johnstone15,32629.03
LiberalDon Matheson7,35613.93
GreenNicholas Wendler1,8043.42
LibertarianRon Stephens3990.76
AllianceGerrie Huenemoerder2710.51
Total valid votes 52,802100.0  
Source: Elections Ontario[8]
2014 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeLisa Thompson18,51239.01−3.72
LiberalColleen Schenk14,64730.86−1.89
New DemocraticJan Johnstone10,84322.85+2.00
GreenAdam Werstine1,6513.48+1.76
Family CoalitionAndrew Zettel1,3532.85+1.38
LibertarianMax Maister3230.68
Equal ParentingDennis Valenta1280.27
Total valid votes 47,457 100.00 + 1.20
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 765 1.59 +1.31
Turnout 48,222 59.96 +0.73
Eligible voters 80,428   +5.85
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −0.92
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2014). "Official Returns from the Records, 034 Huron-Bruce" (PDF). Retrieved 18 March 2015.
2011 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeLisa Thompson19,13842.76+12.22$ 81,890.60
LiberalCarol Mitchell14,65932.75−13.2079,935.51
New DemocraticGrant Robertson9,32920.85+7.5332,102.53
GreenPatrick Main7721.72−4.81881.40
Family CoalitionChristine Schnurr6561.47−0.8514,592.60
IndependentDennis Valenta2000.45−0.440.00
Total valid votes / expense limit 44,754 100.0   +0.46 $ 90,268.64
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 172 0.38 −0.09
Turnout 44,926 59.23 −0.57
Eligible voters 75,853   +1.35
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +12.71
Source(s)
"Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Huron—Bruce – October 6, 2011 General Election" (PDF).
"2011 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

References
  1. Dale Carruthers (12 October 2011). "Thompson brings rural experience". The London Free Press.
  2. "Meet Lisa". Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  3. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  4. "General Election by District: Huron-Bruce". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014.
  5. "isa M. Thompson, MPP (Huron—Bruce)". Archived from the original on 2018-01-31.
  6. "Ontario Progressive Conservatives shuffle critic roles after Patrick Brown resignation". Global News. The Canadian Press. January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  7. Jackson, Peter (29 June 2018). "Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson Named Ontario Education Minister". Bayshore Broadcasting. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  8. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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