MPP Ernie Hardeman is looking to tackle trade related issues as the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

OXFORD COUNTY - Ernie Hardeman will be Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the next four years.

But this won't be a first for Oxford's Conservative MPP. Hardeman filled the position from 1999 to 2001; back when former Premier Mike Harris was in charge.

"A lot of things have changed since then and here we are again. Obviously there's things coming forward that need to be dealt with and we're looking forward and working together with all the stakeholders to make agriculture even a stronger sector of our economy than it is today."

He says there are some big issues he would like to tackle this time around.

"Particularly the issues that are dealing with trade and so forth; they obviously affect all of the product that we produce in agriculture so we'll be dealing with that as we go forward starting today in the meeting with the Federal Minister and go from there."

Hardeman is in Guelph today for a briefing with ministry staff before meeting with the Federal Minister this afternoon.