Ag Minister

[farmaholic]

Since it seems to be the only cylinder firing on the economic engine, maybe Justin will take the portfolio for himself. Instead of failed(Vanclief) or ex farmers(Ritz) being Minister of Ag we could have another Minister with disdain for the portfolio who knows **** all.

[stonepicker]

Not sure what most farmers expect from an ag minister. Western canada had a record crop a couple years ago and most scream hang the ag- min. it's his fault, grain in our area moved at a record pace. Got rid of the --- and half the farmers yell treason! and the other half yell, the big bad corps. are stealing our grain! By the amount of new mach. in my area and the price of land i think our area is thriving. ( although the young guns are overspending! IMO ) I don't think any ag min. will have much more than 30% support at any one time. I'll agree with braveheart, i think it will be a woman.

[farmaholic]

What good is the wheel if it falls off because of the neglected hub? I think it's about time the Primary Producer is put first for a change, not the corporates of the Industry....

[bucket]

Listened to the apas president today who said things are moving fairly well.

No one is looking to grow a 60 to 70 mmt crop regularly.

So the system straightens itself out by producing less instead of striving for more and better movement.

Jesus ****ing Christ already. These lulls in production is when you make upgrades to handle larger crops not sit on their laurels.

No vision.

[Oliver88]

Since the Liberals are planning to run deficits now it will be interesting to see if agriculture spending is a priority.

Railway infrastructure, improvements to Agri-Invest, Agri-Stability, drought/unseeded acre payment increases, crop insurance improvements, etc.

Hopefully they get somebody better than Vanclief or Goodale.

[Francksaskfarmer]

I think Mark Eyking will be Ag Minister, he was already liberal AG critic. But being a male he has that against him.

[Koldkanuck]

It don't matter who the Ag Minister will be now. In close to 50 years of farming, all I know is Liberal times are tough times for the prairie farmers. To make it look good, Justine will appoint a women, who is gay, smokes a little weed and wears a Burka ...got her Ag degree in Damascus, Syria. Let's just hope it ain't Wayne Easter....good grief if that ever happened.

[farmaholic]

First of all I would like to say there are very qualified people in every race and gender but for **** sales, appointing ministers based on quotas is retarded, what happens if there are no truly qualified white males and too many seats get filled with them? Does that mean you appoint them even if they aren't the best candidates. Sarcasm fully intended-it holds true for everyone!

[dmlfarmer]

If I were to bet on who would be ag minister I would think the odds on favorite would be Easter (3/2). There are 4 MPs from PEI, all men, and 2 with a farm background. If all provinces are to get an MP, ag makes sense for a PEI cabinet minister. MacAulty (4/1 maybe) also has a farm background but has been a back bencher for too long without a major portfolio. Morrissey is even a longer shot (8/1).
Saskatchewan only has Goodale so he gets a prominent post for sure so chances of ag are low (3/1). If however he gets passed over for deputy PM, house leader etc then he becomes the odds on favorite (1/1). Eyking would be good given his status as opposition ag critic but he comes from Ontario and there will be just too much competition from women/urban MPs to name him to a major portfolio. I might bet on him at 5/1. Then there are some longshots like Paradis out of Quebec who have a rural link through his vineyard and would bring another Quebec face to the front bench but I would think no better than a 10/1 chance. My thoughts and guess at the odds of who will be ag minister.

[Integrity_Farmer]

Braveheart Likely a woman from Peterborough, ON. GMO corn country. She'll likely be Ag and Transport Minister

Ag minister a women from Peterborough??? Corn country????? Transport Minister????

What you smoking? Did you get into Trudeau"s weed???