by SUSAN MANN
Two Ontario MPs have been named as federal agriculture critics for their parties.
For the official opposition New Democratic Party, the agriculture critic is 59-year-old Welland MP Malcolm Allen. He is an electrician by trade and has served on the executive board of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 199 and as deputy mayor of Pelham. Allen replaces Castlegar, B.C.-area MP Alex Atamanenko.
The Liberal agriculture critic is Guelph MP Frank Valeriote. He is also his party’s critic for auto policy. Valeriote, 57, has been the MP for Guelph since 2008. He is a lawyer by profession and has served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food since January 2009. Valeriote replaces Prince Edward Island MP Wayne Easter. BF
Comments
Someone's occupation, or trade, seems to be especially irrelevant when if comes to agriculture and politics.
For example, one of the best Ag Ministers we've ever had in Ontario (Elmer Buchanan) was a former-teacher, yet we've had scads of completely-forgettable farmers not only hold the same office, but also fall all over themselves to be bloody-awful at it.
Stephen Thompson, Clinton ON
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