MPP Ernie Hardeman, Oxford

Lord we pray for Ernie Hardeman and the riding of Oxford.  Thank you for Ernie's passion for the Ontario farmer.  We ask that you give him wisdom and understanding in the situations of the local farmer, the state of our farmland, and how to bring your Kingdom to our land... as it is in heaven. 

Ernie Hardeman was elected MPP for Oxford in 1995 and is now the longest serving MPP in Oxford’s history.

Prior to the 1995 election, Ernie was elected to the Township of South-West Oxford council and served as Mayor from 1988 to 1994. 

While representing Oxford as MPP, Ernie has served in a number of roles including Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs (Rural) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance. 

Ernie is now the Official Opposition critic for Agriculture and Food and Chair of the Legislative Committee on Social Policy. In November 2013, the Legislature passed Ernie’s Private Member’s Bill, the Hawkins Gignac Act.  The Bill was introduced to protect people from carbon monoxide poisoning and was named in memory of a Woodstock family who were tragically lost.  

Until 1995 Ernie owned and operated Hardeman Feed Ltd. in Salford and served as a volunteer firefighter, retiring as Captain of the South-West Oxford Fire Department. He and his wife, Reta, have three sons and a daughter.