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Holland acknowledged that some might see moving from Parliament Hill to the ride-filled midway, and from trying to keep 40 million Canadians healthy to encouraging them to visit the Food Building, as a neck-snap fitting for the Polar Express.

He doesn’t see it that way, though, saying his former work and his new job both involve fostering community and celebrating diversity. Holland also says it’s OK to indulge, a bit, once in a while.

The Ex “is a Canadian tradition and something that everybody in the GTA has some story or connection to,” Holland said in an interview Tuesday, adding that as a kid he visited the fair annually and, as a parliamentarian, kept up the tradition with cabinet colleague Omar Alghabra, former minister of transport.

“I’ve spent a career trying to build community and tackle problems faced by the community and The Ex is a great vehicle for that,” Holland said.

“I know a lot of people don’t know that CNE’s mandate is to build community, celebrate Canada, exhibit culture, but it has a mandate to take the revenues it generates and put it back into the community.”

As for CNE food, which can range from sticky to strange, Holland noted the CNE’s mandate includes promoting agriculture and food, adding he wants to look at ways of connecting schools and students to healthy food.

“The Ex gives you the opportunity to go out and try some fun food and there is an opportunity to indulge a little bit but the key is moderation,” Holland said. “It’s about balance and people coming together and interacting ... and being away from screens and engaging in the world, because the future includes going to live events, live theatre and being out in the community where things are real.”

As health minister he handled hot-button files including rules around medically assisted death and the introduction of new national pharmacare and dental care programs. Holland was considered a Trudeau loyalist who supported ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ MP and cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland for the Liberal leadership that was won by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In a statement, Randy Bauslaugh, president of the Canadian National Exhibition Association, said Holland is “deeply committed to community, and his values align with the values and goals of the CNEA’s strategic plan.” 

Holland said he wants to pursue more year-round activities on The Ex’s leased space at city-owned Exhibition Place, and would like to work with provincially owned Ontario Place and other partners to “create a space that is really vibrant and exciting, that brings people together and utilizes the space as a destination year round.

“I think it’s an extraordinary opportunity for the city, for the waterfront, and I’m excited to explore that and have conversations because the city needs us to kind of come together and build that together.”

He takes the reins just over two weeks before Aug. 15 when the late-summer tradition kicks off its 146th season that ends Sept. 1. The Ex drew 1.49 million visitors last summer.

The CNEA fired his predecessor Brown along with Brown’s wife who was running an art gallery at Exhibition Place. Termination letters obtained by the Star accused them of harassment and other workplace misconduct.

Brown denied any wrongdoing, telling the Star that he and his wife were victims of a power play that saw them targeted with unfounded accusations. The former CEO also said he felt resistance from some senior colleagues and the board to his efforts to protect CNEA space on the grounds, including his proposal for an “immersive� year-round attraction in part of the Food Building, to help ensure the CNEA gets a new lease from the city on the building in 2027.

The Exhibition grounds are run by a separate city board that leases space to the CNEA, an “agricultural society� funded through operating revenues.