Canada names MacAulay new agriculture minister

Lawrence MacAulay has been named Canada’s new minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. His selection for the position follows the swearing in of the country’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
A longtime member of the Canadian parliament, MacAulay was first elected to the House of Commons in 1988 to represent Cardigan in eastern Prince Edward Island. He recently was elected to that post for the ninth consecutive term.
As the minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, MacAulay will be responsible for overseeing the following organizations:

• Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal
• Canadian Grain Commission
• Farm Products Council of Canada
• Canadian Dairy Commission
• Farm Credit Canada

A former farmer and businessman, MacAulay’s previous Canadian cabinet appointments have included Solicitor General of Canada, Minister of Labor, Secretary of State (Veterans) and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency).
MacAulay replaces Gerry Ritz as agriculture minister. Also a former farmer, Ritz will continue to play an active role in shaping Canadian policy, as he will remain a member of parliament. Ritz was just elected to a seventh term representing Battlefords-Lloydminster.
Trudeau and MacAulay are members of the Liberal Party of Canada, while Ritz and outgoing prime minister Stephen Harper are members of the Conservative Party of Canada.