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

Throughout his time in the Ontario Legislature, Ernie has held many positions including Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs (Rural), Chair of the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, and previously served as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from 1999-2001 and 2018-2021. Ernie is the current Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

Prior to the 1995 election, Ernie was elected to the Township of South-West Oxford council and served as Mayor from 1988 to 1994. Ernie also represented the people of Oxford as Warden of Oxford County council, chair of the Warden’s Association of Ontario, chair of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and on the board of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.