Lisa Thompson (politician)

The Honourable
Lisa Thompson
MPP
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Assumed office
June 18, 2021
Premier Doug Ford
Preceded by Ernie Hardeman
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
In office
June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021
Premier Doug Ford
Preceded by Bill Walker
Succeeded by Ross Romano
Minister of Education
In office
June 29, 2018 – June 20, 2019
Premier Doug Ford
Preceded by Indira Naidoo-Harris
Succeeded by Stephen Lecce
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Huron—Bruce
Assumed office
October 6, 2011
Preceded by Carol Mitchell
Personal details
Born 1965 (age 58–59)
Wingham, Ontario, Canada
Political party Progressive Conservative
Spouse Dennis Schiestel
Residence Teeswater, Ontario
Occupation Dairy Goat cooperative General Manager

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.

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.

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. She was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election, defeating Liberal candidate Colleen Schenk by 3,882 votes, 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.

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.

Following the 2018 provincial election, Lisa Thompson was named Minister of Education in Premier Doug Ford's cabinet. 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 Conservative Lisa Thompson 27,646 52.36
New Democratic Jan Johnstone 15,326 29.03
Liberal Don Matheson 7,356 13.93
Green Nicholas Wendler 1,804 3.42
Libertarian Ron Stephens 399 0.76
Alliance Gerrie Huenemoerder 271 0.51
Total valid votes 52,802 100.0  
Source: Elections Ontario


2014 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Lisa Thompson 18,512 39.01 −3.72
Liberal Colleen Schenk 14,647 30.86 −1.89
New Democratic Jan Johnstone 10,843 22.85 +2.00
Green Adam Werstine 1,651 3.48 +1.76
Family Coalition Andrew Zettel 1,353 2.85 +1.38
Libertarian Max Maister 323 0.68
Equal Parenting Dennis Valenta 128 0.27
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 Conservative Lisa Thompson 19,138 42.76 +12.22 $ 81,890.60
Liberal Carol Mitchell 14,659 32.75 −13.20 79,935.51
New Democratic Grant Robertson 9,329 20.85 +7.53 32,102.53
Green Patrick Main 772 1.72 −4.81 881.40
Family Coalition Christine Schnurr 656 1.47 −0.85 14,592.60
Independent Dennis Valenta 200 0.45 −0.44 0.00
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.

Cabinet positions