Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness is the first Agriculture Minister from Essex County. Courtesy Photo
TORONTO – Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet were sworn in on March 19, and there were many familiar faces, albeit with some new portfolios. Of interest to those in the agriculture industry, former Minister of Agriculture Rob Flack is being appointed Minister of Housing. Trevor Jones, formerly the Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, takes over as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.
Not surprisingly, there hasn’t been a lot of updates to the Ministry of Agriculture website since mid-January, what with the election and everything that involved, but with all the bluster and threats of tariffs from south of the border, Minister Jones can expect to be very busy for the foreseeable future.
Jones, the Honourable Member for Chatham-Kent-Leamington is in his second term as an MPP.
Since his election in 2022, Jones has served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Mines, respectively. He was appointed as Deputy House Leader in the Ontario Legislature in October 2023 and became an Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response as part of the Treasury Board Secretariat in June 2024.
According to the bio on his riding website, Jones is a lifelong resident of Chatham-Kent-Leamington who served his community with distinction for over twenty years. Trevor served as a municipal Councillor in Leamington and previously served as a police officer and worked closely alongside service groups and communities in the agricultural space. Inspired by his unique experiences in law enforcement, his passion for his communities, and a desire to support innovation and food security, Trevor transitioned his career to a business executive role to advocate for Ontario’s agriculture sector and ensure it remains a world leader.
Minister Jones is the first Agriculture Minister from Essex County. His selection was well received by Provincial agriculture associations from across the province.
