Manitoba’s opposition Progressive Conservatives named new critics for agriculture and rural initiatives in a shadow-cabinet shuffle Thursday.
Cliff Graydon, a grain grower and Charolais breeder from Woodmore, about 65 km south of Steinbach, is the new critic for agriculture, food and co-operative development, taking over from Lakeside MLA Ralph Eichler.
Graydon, the MLA for the Emerson constituency since 2007, is well known in southern Manitoba ranching circles as a founding member and former director of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association. Up until now he was the Tories’ critic for gaming, liquor control and Manitoba Public Insurance.
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Blaine Pedersen, the MLA for Carman, moves from the competitiveness, training and trade file to handle rural initiatives, which in government is also the responsibility of the agriculture minister, currently Dauphin-Roblin MLA Stan Struthers.
Pedersen, a farmer and cattle feeder from Elm Creek, about 50 km southeast of Portage la Prairie, was also first elected to the legislature in 2007. He will also now serve as the Tories’ deputy caucus whip and gaming critic.
Among other portfolios noteworthy to Manitoba farmers, the conservation, water stewardship and “green initiatives” critic files now go to Arthur-Virden MLA Larry Maguire.
Maguire, who previously farmed at Elgin in the province’s southwest, was a founding member of the province’s general farm group, Keystone Agricultural Producers, and was president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.
Maguire, an MLA since 1999, moves from the infrastructure and transportation critic chair, which now goes to Eichler.
Eichler, a farmer and ag businessman from Manitoba’s Interlake region, will now also handle the government services file and serve as the Tories’ caucus chair.
“These changes help ensure we have a strong and effective opposition to this tired NDP government,” Tory leader Hugh McFadyen said in a release Thursday announcing the shuffle. “Together, we will be focused on developing new policies in public safety, the economy and needed improvements to our education system.”
