The federal New Democrats have promoted their deputy agriculture critic to the lead post in their new shadow cabinet. NDP leader Tom Mulcair on Thursday announced Ruth Ellen Brosseau, the MP for the central Quebec riding of Berthier–Maskinonge since 2011, as the party’s critic for agriculture and agri-food, replacing defeated Niagara-area MP Malcolm Allen. Brosseau, […] Read more
NDP’s deputy ag critic moves to first chair
Most of farm file’s handlers to return to Commons
Most federal parliamentarians with experience in the agriculture and agri-food portfolio will be back in the House of Commons under a new majority Liberal government. As of Tuesday morning, prime minister-elect Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were elected or leading in 184 of 338 seats, for a decisive majority following Monday’s federal election. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives return […] Read more
NDP would not feel bound by Pacific trade deal
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s main opposition party said Friday that if it won an Oct. 19 election, it would not feel bound by the terms of a major Pacific trade deal the ruling Conservatives are negotiating in the United States. The New Democrats, currently trailing third in the polls, said in a letter to […] Read more
Alberta’s top agriculture politicians pledge to work together
Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier says he and Wildrose critic Rick Strankman ‘both have the same goal in mind’
Reading Time: 3 minutes The NDP’s majority win was a big surprise, and now Alberta’s new ag minister and his chief critic have another one — they want to work together. Oneil Carlier, a rookie politician now in charge of both agriculture and forestry, and Wildrose ag critic, Rick Strankman both told Alberta Farmer they’d rather work together than […] Read more
Who are Oneil Carlier and Rick Strankman?
Reading Time: 2 minutes They come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, but Oneil Carlier and Rick Strankman share some common ground. For starters, both know farming in dry country. Strankman’s operation is near Altario (roughly halfway between Medicine Hat and Lloydminster) while Carlier grew up on a cattle and grain operation in Val Marie, Sask., 120 kilometres […] Read more
What will the ‘orange crush’ mean for Alberta?
Two political analysts predictions now that the NDP is at the helm of the wild rose province
Reading Time: 6 minutes What lies in store for Alberta now that voters have elected an NDP government? Even new Premier Rachel Notley may not know the answer to that question — she’s said that it was only in the final week of the election that she realized the polls might be true and her party was heading to […] Read more
NDP wave pulls down Alta. Tories, ag minister
Alberta’s incumbent agriculture and rural development minister is among the casualties of the provincial New Democrats’ unprecedented majority in Tuesday’s election. Verlyn Olson, the MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose since 2008, the province’s ag and rural development minister since 2012, and its acting justice minister for about a week and a half, was downed by NDP candidate […] Read more
Opposition seeks Commons debate on CWB sale
The federal opposition New Democrats are asking for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the pending sale of majority control in CWB, the former Canadian Wheat Board. Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin, the party’s critic for public works and government services, announced Friday he has written to Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer requesting […] Read more
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