The agriculture minister’s office at the Manitoba legislature may need new hinges on the door.
On Tuesday afternoon, Premier Heather Stefanson shuffled the provincial cabinet and named Derek Johnson, an MLA from Gimli, as the new ag minister.
Johnson replaces Ralph Eichler, who served as minister when Brian Pallister was Manitoba’s premier. Eichler was the ag minister from 2015-19 and then was replaced by Blaine Pedersen, who was in the position from the fall of 2019 to July of 2021.
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Eichler was re-appointed last July as ag minister, serving in that role for six months.
The Manitoba Pork Council, in a statement released shortly after the cabinet shuffle, praised Eichler for his work on behalf of farmers and the ag sector.
“Ralph Eichler should be commended for all that he has done for agriculture and for his passion in supporting our industry, and our industry is deeply thankful for his service to our province,” said Rick Préjet, Manitoba Pork chair.
“We wish him nothing but the best in the next phase of his elected life and thank him for his dedicated service to agriculture in our province and to the people he has served.”
Under Eichler, Manitoba farmers benefitted from an investment boom as companies spent hundreds of millions on agri-food processing projects.
Simplot Foods spent more than $450 million to double the size of its french fry plant in Portage la Prairie. Roquette, a French firm, built a $400 million pea processing plant, also in Portage.
As well, Merit Foods constructed a $200 million canola and pea protein plant in Winnipeg.
Keystone Agricultural Producers also thanked Eichler for his public service.
“We have valued Minister Eichler’s desire to grow the industry through his various roles in public office and wish him the best,” said KAP president Bill Campbell.
KAP and Manitoba Pork congratulated Johnson on his new role
“Minister Johnson brings a wealth of experience in business and municipal government … and Manitoba Pork looks forward to continuing a strong working relationship with the provincial government.”
Johnson was Manitoba’s minister of municipal relations before his new job as ag minister.
Contact robert.arnason@producer.com
