By Martin Martinson

Former MP Ritz Inducted to Agriculture Hall of Fame

Aug 15, 2018 | 9:13 AM

Gerry Ritz is being inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame.

When asked about his initial reaction to hearing the news of his pending induction, Ritz said it was not something he was expecting to hear when he answered the phone, but the news was a pleasant surprise.

“It was a shock, of course,” Ritz said. “It is very humbling to be considered for that level. I mean I turned and talked to my wife right away because we have to make arrangements to get to Toronto November the fourth for the ceremony.”

Having served as Federal Agriculture Minister from 2007-2015, Ritz told battlefordsNOW the key to the position was connecting with various companies across Canada.

“The big thing as minister was working with all of the industry groups across this great country,” Ritz said. “Agriculture in Canada is the third-largest driver of our GDP, the largest trading sector; and food preparation is the largest manufacturing sector.”

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In addition to his ministerial tenure, Ritz was also the former Member of Parliament for the Battlefords – Lloydminster region, an area he knows well.  

Ritz spent 20-plus years representing the riding, serving as their representative in the House of Commons from 1997-2017. Ritz, now nearly a year into retirement, said he looks back fondly at his time spent serving his constituents. When asked what memories stand out in particular, Ritz kept coming back to the people of the community.

“Just the great people of the Battlefords and Lloydminster that sent me back seven times. It’s a bit unprecedented out here, [to serve that long] just over the 20 years – 20 years and three months, almost to the day,” Ritz said. “Almost nine years in cabinet that made quite a difference for the riding. You know, when you’re at the cabinet table there are things you can do that you can’t do as an opposition MP or even a back-bench MP in Parliament. Being the regional minister allowed me to do things and target specific areas that I thought had been missing for a while.”

The Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Nov. 4 in Toronto.

martin.martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1