he credits his experience and the trust of the Premier. “Hopefully, I’ve earned that trust. Leadership experience, common sense, and a little bit of wisdom never hurt. I’ve built a business throughout my career, and while government isn’t a business, using business principles and good governance is important.” Despite the successes, challenges remain. “These tariff threats have not been fun because there’s no logic to them. Canada and the U.S. trade $45 billion a year in agri-food alone, and we actually have a slight trade deficit with them. If we retaliate, it’s going to hurt their farmers and our farmers alike. As Premier Ford says, why pick a fight with your best friend? The only predictable thing about Donald Trump is his unpredictability. That’s what keeps me up at night — how these tariffs could impact our jobs, our farmers, our businesses, and our communities.” Automotive and agribusiness, including agri-food, are two of the most vulnerable industries in this region. Rob views the current trade tensions as a precursor to negotiations surrounding the Canada-U.S.- Mexico Agreement. “We’re not without leverage in Ontario. We’re an economic powerhouse in automotive and agri-food, which is a $51 billion industry in GDP. Agri-food alone employs more people than the auto sector, from farm gate to consumer’s plate. There’s reason for concern, but at the same time, this trade relationship benefits both sides. I’m hopeful cooler heads will prevail and that we won’t see the catastrophic economic damage that could be a risk. The biggest threat is jobs — that’s the real concern. As a government, we are going to protect those jobs come hell or high water.” Even with these concerns, Rob remains optimistic. “We have a massive investment to make in our communities to support our growth. You can’t look at it all at once — you break it down, tackle each challenge, and find solutions.”
Rob also sees a major opportunity in expanding Ontario’s agri-food processing sector. “Especially in light of these tariffs, we need to create an environment where more agri-food processing takes place here. This region is perfectly suited for it — we have the farms, the productivity, and the population both to work in the industry and consume the products. Our transportation connections to the U.S., airports, and Great Lakes make us an agri-food powerhouse. We produce over 200 commodities in Ontario, and we need to add more value to them, process more of our food here, and find new export markets beyond the United States. Right now, 81 to 82 percent of our agri-food exports go to the U.S. We’ll always trade with them, but if we want to grow, we need to diversify.” Change is something Rob is keenly aware of. “London has changed drastically in a short time, and St. Thomas is seeing rapid growth, too. Not everyone is comfortable with change, but the reality is Ontario’s population has more than doubled since I was in high school. The federal government controls immigration, and it’s our job to invest and prepare for that growth.” Ensuring home ownership remains attainable and improving access to healthcare are key priorities for Rob. “We’ve brought in more doctors than ever before, but with more people, we need more primary care. We’re investing $1.8 billion to ensure that happens over the next four years.” With another four years ahead, Rob is ready to take on the challenges and opportunities that come with the job. “I woke up the day after the election, and it was game on. There’s a lot to do, and I’m ready to get it done.”
Make your Mother’s Day Special
519-633-9691 1030 Talbot Street St. Thomas Monday to Saturday 8am – 8pm Sunday 8am – 6pm
Our garden centre is open! We have all of your Mother's Day needs including:
Hanging Baskets, Fresh Cut Flowers, Bedding Plants, Soil and much more!
Fresh Local Asparagus Fresh Local Hot House Tomatoes
Fresh Local Beef, Pork and Chicken for your BBQ!
Freshness, Quality, Satisfaction and the Ultimate Quality Service... Always!
Hometown St. Thomas • May 2025 • Page 7
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