John Vanthof is now second-in-command to Andrea Horwath
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
An Ontario dairy farmer and member of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) will have a more prominent role at Queen’s Park.
John Vanthof, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane and the NDP’s agricultural critic, will serve as one of the party’s deputy leaders for the fall legislative session.
In this role, Vanthof will take on some of the responsibilities of Andrea Horwath, leader of the Ontario NDP.
Vanthof is also the nephew of Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.
Horwath announced Vanthof’s appointment Thursday.
“Having a northern deputy leader like John Vanthof, who is an experienced MPP, will ensure that New Democrats will connect with more people in northern and rural communities,” Horwath said during a news conference. “Together with our northern team of NDP MPPs, we will continue to fight for northern health care, education and job creation.”
Vanthof, who has served his community for seven years, looks forward to his new role within the NDP’s caucus.
“Since being first elected in 2011, I have always tried to represent the views of the people of Timiskaming-Cochrane to the party and to my fellow MPPs in a way that engages people and helps them understand our unique way of life,” he said, the Kirkland Lake Northern News reported. “In my new role as deputy leader, I am going to represent the NDP in rural Ontario in the same way, by engaging them and speaking on their terms.”
Vanthof is not the NDP’s only deputy leader for the fall session.
Sara Singh, MPP for Brampton Centre, will also hold that title.
Horwath unveiled the deputy leader appointments as part of her full shadow cabinet to that of Premier Doug Ford’s.
Other appointments to the NDP shadow cabinet include Taras Natyshak as international trade critic, Peggy Sattler as economic development critic and Peter Tabuns as energy and climate change critic.