Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne greeted by anti-wind protesters in Clinton 

“I think she has a tough assignment – I don’t feel she is being sincere. I don’t get the warm and fuzzies from her,” said Barb Graber of Clinton.

But Mike Stroud, originally of Wasaga Beach, said there’s no fence to mend. He has no beef with the government’s green-energy policies.

The owner of a renewable energy company, Stroud moved to Clinton to take advantage of higher green energy pricing the Liberals brought in. He said he was installing vertical-axis wind turbines, but has switched to installing rooftop solar panels.

“But a lot of these old buildings need roofs and I can’t find enough labourers,” he said.

Wynne, wearing her trademark red Wellington boots in the barnyard muck, said she hopes her dual roles – for one year, as promised – will attract more attention to the importance of Ontario agriculture, its second-largest industry after manufacturing with 700,000 workers.

She faced a hostile crowd of about 80 wind-turbine opponents later in Clinton, when she arrived to address a roundtable on agricultural issues sponsored by the Huron Chamber of Commerce.

Huron-Bruce riding, which takes in Clinton, is considered hostile territory for Wynne and the Liberals because of opposition to turbines.

In the 2011 election, the riding opted against returning agriculture minister Carol Mitchell as MPP, a reflection of the fight against her party’s energy policies that have left 1,100 industrial wind turbines dotting rural Ontario with thousands more planned.

“I am aware there are people outside who are angry,” Wynne said after running a gauntlet of signs, chants and catcalls, some amplified by loud hailers. Security was tight.

“I met a lot of people who are concerned about placement of wind turbines and how we could have a better process,” Wynne told the crowd of 100. Earlier, she told her Lucan audience Energy Minister Brad Duguid is modifying the approvals process for wind farms.

The Liberals took away local control over where the massive wind turbines can be built, angering many in rural areas.

Wynne said in Clinton she was in farm country to listen and she spent time over lunch hearing concerns of the chamber guests.

“I want to hear your suggestions, I want to talk to you,” she told her audience while protesters howled outside.

“I am committed to advancing this sector,” Wynne said in a her brief remarks.

“My approach is to find common ground,” said the former professional mediator.

Good to her word, she asked Central Huron Mayor Jim Gunn to pick three protesters with whom she agreed to meet privately.

After 15 minutes, Dave Griffiths, chair of Bluewater Against Turbines, part of the threesome, said he felt Wynne listened to the concerns.

Still, he said he was startled to hear the premier assert “she feels there is as much opposition as there is support” for wind turbines.

Griffiths said surveys in places like Huron County show opposition is running at 90%.

“I’m not hopeful at all.” he said, asked if he thinks the government will take greater account of local opposition when new turbines are to be erected.