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Minister Ritz's background

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    #25
    Gerry often tries to be 'informal' in
    his communications, To break the ice so
    to speak.

    Some folks take offense... Media loves
    to twist his words... Dwelling on
    negatives rather than a positive upbeat
    tone of approach as was intended.

    Being harsh is an indication of cultural
    norms in Coffee Shop talk... With put
    downs and banter that some find
    amusing... Young folks desire a positive
    attitude to work in... Or they leave.

    Just saying... Being Oscar the grouch
    accomplishes little except an ego boost
    for the person insulting others.

    Shallow ways better left behind in our
    new social community!

    Cheers

    Comment


      #26
      The thing is it's easy to blame others when things
      go astray. Certainly mistakes were made by many
      this year. But, you can't change the past.
      Affecting policy is more than an uphill battle, it's a
      bottomless pit.

      The best approach for farmers is alert your farm
      org to the issue and urge action. You pay
      memberships, use them. Then, as an individual,
      adapt as best you can. You have control over your
      own actions. YOU, are within your circle of
      influence. Policy is only in your circle of concern.

      Constant bashing of Gerry Ritz won't change
      anything. If you want to be involved in meaningful
      policy change, rather than bashing, your
      statement should say, "what the Minister needs to
      do is . . .". You'll start feeling better. More
      positive.

      Cheers!

      Comment


        #27
        I have sent emails indicating the minister needs to implement a transparent reporting system similar to that of the USDA.

        The emails go unanswered, meanwhile I read TOMs post about how he talks to RITZ. The fart smelling farmers that have RITZs ear are not going to help solve the problem because according to TOM, it is solved.

        Comment


          #28
          Tom you stated "Gerry often tries to be informal in his communications to break the ice" would this statement fall within that category.

          Ritz made national news when, in response to the 2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak he was quoted as saying, "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts."

          I guess the families and freinds of the people who lost their lives because of the listeriosis outbreak really appreciated this as you call it "icebreaker"

          Harper had to put Mr Ritz in hiding for several months after that "Icebreaker" Tom I guess Gerry's statement would make him an " Oscar the Grouch".

          Pleease for all you posters coming to the defence of Mr Ritz I asked a simple question what is Gerry's background? I didn't ask if you thought he was the greastest Ag Minister of all time or if he had great staffers.

          Comment


            #29
            His staffers are just other MPs kids.

            MP Dreeshen has his son working in RITZs office.

            Comment


              #30
              That comments was made at a meeting of CFIA
              officials who were taking a lot of heat, not said to
              the media.

              It was not the best choice of a wisecrack and he
              admitted it. How about Trudeau's comments said
              to the media about Ukraine.

              If you are implying he isn't qualified to be ag
              minister, explain how Kathleen Wynne qualifies.

              Ritz is from Rosetown , a great grain growing
              region with a few mixed farmers. Not a lot of
              swine, dairy, greenhouse etc. Now name me one
              ag minister that had a solid background in all
              areas of ag. They likely don't exist.

              Comment


                #31
                LEP Again, your off topic. I'm asking a simple question what is Ritz's Ag background. I don't care what Trudeau said nor that Wynne is the premier of Ontario. Just like I could care less about Alison Redford. This business about pointing fingers at other political parties is getting worn out. Ritz's is my current Ag mimister none of the above are he is the one setting Ag policy.

                IF you hold a Conservative Membership card please put it away, as big brother is not watching you, and stop diverting the question.

                Ok LEP you established he's from Rosetown area. Great!! Did he farm? Was he successfull at it? Was he involved in grain of livestock? I'm not involved in any political party and never have been. I'm a farmer just asking farmers from Sask. who post on here about Ritz' Ag background nothing more.

                Comment


                  #32
                  Sask government KIDS hired in other ministries.
                  Is this partisan politics?

                  Comment


                    #33
                    FF,

                    "Life and pre-political career[edit]
                    Ritz was born in Delisle, Saskatchewan and prior to his
                    political career, he worked as a farmer at the family
                    farm for over 20 years and owned a contracting
                    business company.

                    Federal Politics[edit]
                    Ritz was elected as the Reform Party candidate in the
                    1997 general election, and then re-elected with the
                    Canadian Alliance in the 2000 election and the
                    Conservative Party of Canada in the 2004 election. Ritz
                    has been the vice-chair of the House of Commons
                    Agriculture Committee since 2002. He was appointed
                    Secretary of State for small business and tourism in the
                    Harper government on January 4, 2007.

                    Minister of Agriculture[edit]
                    On August 14, 2007, Ritz was promoted to the Cabinet
                    as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food replacing
                    Chuck Strahl.[2]

                    Ritz made national news when, in response to the
                    2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak he was quoted as
                    saying, "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or
                    should I say cold cuts." Then when told of a death in
                    Prince Edward Island, Ritz said, "Please tell me it's
                    (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter." Ritz later apologized for his
                    comments [3] and Prime Minister Stephen Harper kept
                    Ritz in Cabinet after the 2008 Canadian general
                    election.

                    In September 2012, E. coli bacteria was found in meat
                    from the XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alberta. This led to
                    over 1800 products being recalled across Canada and
                    the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
                    estimated that 1.1 million kilograms of meat from XL
                    Foods were recalled from American stores.[4] This was
                    also the largest beef recall in Canadian history, with
                    meat being recalled in every province and territory in
                    Canada and 41 American states.[5]"

                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Ritz


                    "About Gerry

                    Born on a farm near Rosetown, Saskatchewan, and
                    driven by a lifelong passion for agriculture, Agriculture
                    Minister Gerry Ritz believes in putting "Farmers First". It
                    means that by ensuring a strong and profitable farm
                    gate the entire value chain is better positioned to
                    capitalize on market opportunities, drive the economy
                    and feed the world.

                    Over his four years as Agriculture Minister, Ritz has
                    worked to ensure a profitable farm gate by improving
                    market access around the world and investing in
                    research and development here at home. He has led
                    over 30 trade missions around the world in an effort to
                    open, reopen and expand market access by promoting
                    a rules and science-based approach to trade. At home,
                    Minister Ritz works with industry, academia and other
                    levels of government to strategically invest in science
                    and innovation that will create new market
                    opportunities for Canada's hardworking producers and
                    processors.

                    Most recently, Minister Ritz quarterbacked the passage
                    of the historic Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers
                    Act, which is opening the door to new investment,
                    innovation and value-added opportunities for Western
                    Canadian wheat and barley growers. Working
                    collaboratively with the provinces, territories and
                    industry, he is leading the development of a renewed
                    policy framework for agriculture to meet the ever-
                    changing needs of the farm gate while strengthening
                    the entire agriculture industry.

                    In recognition of his achievements, Minister Ritz
                    received the Western Canadian Wheat Growers "Shovel
                    of Gratitude" in January 2012 for delivering marketing
                    freedom for western wheat, durum and barley farmers.
                    Minister Ritz was also awarded the first-ever Jim
                    Graham Award by the Canada Beef Export Federation
                    in 2009 for "the greatest contribution made to
                    Canadian beef and veal exports". In 2010, he was
                    recognized by the Canadian Pork Council for his efforts
                    to maintain global confidence in Canadian pork
                    following the H1N1 crisis.

                    Minister Ritz has been serving farmers, food processors
                    and all Canadians as Minister of Agriculture since
                    2007, and as Member of Parliament for Battlefords-
                    Lloydminster since 1997. He previously served as
                    Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism and
                    continues to represent his native Saskatchewan as
                    Regional Minister.

                    In addition to farming, Minister Ritz has owned and
                    operated a general contracting business, and co-
                    owned a weekly newspaper. Minister Ritz also has a
                    long history of community involvement including work
                    with economic development organizations and
                    coaching hockey. He and his wife Judy live at
                    Brightsand Lake in western Saskatchewan. They have
                    two children and three grandchildren."

                    http://gerryritz.ca/content/about

                    http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/images/RITZ-1.pdf

                    "Gerry Ritz was first elected to the House of Commons
                    in 1997. He was re- elected in 2000 and 2004. During
                    the course of his career, Mr. Ritz has run his own
                    farming operation, owned and operated a general
                    contracting business, and co-owned a weekly
                    newspaper.
                    Mr. Ritz served as the Chair of the Standing Committee
                    on Agriculture and Agri-food. He has also served as
                    the Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food and for Public
                    Works and Government Services. Mr. Ritz also held the
                    position of Deputy Whip and Question Period
                    Coordinator for the Official Opposition. He was Chair
                    of the Subcommittee on the Estimates Process and a
                    member of the standing committees on Finance and on
                    Transport, the Subcommittee on Private Members’
                    Business and the Liaison Committee.
                    Prior to entering Parliament, Mr. Ritz worked as
                    constituency coordinator for former Saskatchewan MP,
                    Elwin Hermanson. As a parliamentarian, Mr. Ritz has
                    served as Agriculture critic, Public Works and
                    Government Operations critic and Question Period
                    coordinator. Gerry Ritz and his wife, Judy, have two
                    adult children. Mr. Ritz enjoys outdoor sports and
                    tinkering with machinery."

                    Comment


                      #34
                      Forage, when you ask what his background is you
                      imply he isn't qualified.

                      My comments are that he has done more than
                      probably any ag minister in recent history to
                      advance farming.

                      Also my comments regarding Wynne are that we
                      could do worse and my comment regarding
                      Trudeau's comments are that when you speak
                      and have every comment recorded for posterity it
                      is the rare few that don't step in it at some point.

                      Comment


                        #35
                        I treat politics like machinery...I go
                        with the one I dislike the least. Other
                        than scraping the board Harper et.al.
                        have done sfa for ag. They blocked a
                        deal that would have created competition
                        in potash, they've allowed the
                        consolidation of input suppliers and
                        grain buyers, they've given
                        biotechnology a cart Blanche, they've
                        allowed any assholes with a dollar in
                        their pocket come here and buy our land
                        and now they've allowed for a duopoly in
                        the rail industry to facilitate the
                        theft of billions of dollars from the
                        western economy.

                        Do we have a viable alternative? No! But
                        to call harper and Ritz competent policy
                        makers with the interests of Canadians
                        and Canadian Business is laughable.

                        Comment


                          #36
                          Professional politicians speak of an ag portfolio as
                          the kiss of death. He's sure hung on given all the
                          change.

                          Comment

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