Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers has been appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, a role that he says puts his decades of farming and agricultural advocacy to good use.
"Agriculture has been the passion of my life," said Vickers. "I am very excited for this opportunity to advocate for Ontario’s farmers and agri-businesses."
Vickers joins Minister Trevor Jones in leading one of the province’s most vital sectors, one that includes food production, business development, and long-term sustainability efforts in Ontario’s rural communities.
First elected to Queen’s Park in February, the longtime Meaford dairy farmer is a first-term MPP with deep roots in agriculture.
"This is a natural fit for me," Vickers says. "I’ve been a primary producer most of my life, and I served on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) board, including during the pandemic. So I come into this role already knowing many of the files, and I’m ready to contribute right away."
Vickers has also been a director with Gay Lea Foods Co-operative, and he and his family continue to operate a third-generation dairy farm. His lived experience in the agri-food industry, he says, will allow him to hit the ground running, especially when working alongside Minister Jones.
"Trevor and I actually go back a ways. He was the parliamentary assistant for agriculture when I was with the OFA," said Vickers. "I was on the other side, lobbying him. I found him to be very open-minded and positive then, and I still do now. We complement each other well, he brings strength in areas like greenhouse and vegetable production, and I bring 30-plus years of experience in livestock and traditional farming."
Vickers will share his parliamentary assistant duties with Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg, another Progressive Conservative appointee who brings Northern Ontario perspective to the file. Together, they are expected to support Minister Jones by attending events, consulting with stakeholders, and contributing to legislative work tied to agriculture and food policy.
While he hasn’t yet had a direct conversation with Premier Doug Ford about the appointment, Vickers says he’s been advised to approach the job with humility and a willingness to listen.
"The best advice I’ve gotten so far is, ‘You have two ears and one mouth—use them in that proportion,’" he said with a laugh. "It’s important for me to understand the Premier’s vision for agriculture, but I believe I’m trusted in this industry, and that goes a long way."
Vickers said he looks forward to representing Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and rural Ontario as the legislature resumes April 14 with the Ford government’s Speech from the Throne.
"We come from such a strong agriculture area," he said. "It’s an honour to bring that perspective to Queen’s Park and to help guide policy that supports the people who feed this province."