Official Opposition leader Rona Ambrose unveiled the Conservatives’ shadow cabinet on Friday, assigning experienced MPs and former cabinet ministers to new critic roles.
Former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has been tapped to serve as International Trade critic, a natural fit following his work on building market access as ag minister. Ritz will closely follow the ongoing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) dispute with the U.S. and Canada’s future in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Alberta MP Chris Warkentin will serve as the Conservative’s agriculture critic, while Jacques Gourde, a farmer and MP from Quebec has been appointed deputy ag critic.
Former trade minister Ed Fast has been given the Environment and Climate Change portfolio, Kelly Block was appointed to Transport and Bev Shipley was named Rural Affairs critic. (The complete shadow cabinet list can be found on the Conservative Party website.)
NDP leader Tom Mulcair unveiled his party’s shadow cabinet last week, naming Ruth Ellen Brosseau to the agriculture and agri-food portfolio.
Related:
- Will Running in 2015 be Gerry Ritz’s Biggest Political Regret?
- Who is Lawrence MacAulay? An Introduction to the New Ag Minister
