The appointment of George Groeneveld as Alberta’s new agriculture minister came as a surprise to many people, including the new minister.
“It was a bit of a shock,” said Groeneveld shortly after being appointed by Alberta premier Ed Stelmach.
Groeneveld, 66, has only been an MLA for two years but has known premier Stelmach since Groeneveld’s time as a delegate and director of Alberta Wheat Pool.
“We lived too far apart to be bosom buddies, but I got along with him very well,” said Groeneveld of Blackie, Alta.
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Groeneveld operated a mixed grain and cattle farm outside Calgary with his brother for 30 years. When Alberta Wheat Pool and Manitoba Pool Elevators merged to form Agricore, Groeneveld moved to Winnipeg to serve one year as first vice-president.
He said he’s taking over Alberta’s agriculture portfolio at a good time with few issues that need immediate attention.
“Agriculture in Alberta is relatively good and the department (is) in relatively good shape,” he said.
“I guess I’m going to sit back and take a look at where we’re going. What’s the date today? We don’t have a crisis issue at hand, but on the other hand that can change by the time the phone rings.”
Groeneveld said he would carry on the work of previous Alberta agriculture ministers in encouraging the federal government to move toward a more open and voluntary Canadian Wheat Board.
“I’ve always been an advocate it should be a voluntary system. You realize I come from southern Alberta. That’s pretty much the position held in southern Alberta, for quite some time, by the majority.”
He doesn’t believe the recent wheat board elections returning a majority of pro board supporters is a reflection of Alberta farmers’ beliefs on how the board should operate.
During his time as MLA, Groeneveld worked on a private member’s bill that any grain used in the biofuel industry would be exempt from the wheat board’s buy-back process.
As part of the cabinet shuffle, Stelmach moved the biofuel portfolio from agriculture to energy. Groeneveld said he’s already received a few calls wondering how that would affect agriculture.
Minutes after Groeneveld’s appointment was announced, the head of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, a general farm organization, invited him to the group’s annual convention in January.
“I know very little about him. This was a big surprise for me,” said Rod Scarlett, executive director of Wild Rose.
The new cabinet has a strong rural stamp, with many members from outside the two main cities, which may prove beneficial to agriculture and rural Albertans, Scarlett said.
Former agriculture minister Doug Horner is now minister of advanced education and technology.
The new deputy minister of agriculture is Rory Campbell.
Hugh McDonald, Liberal agriculture critic, said he was disappointed with the choice of Groeneveld as agriculture minister because of his support for a more open Canadian Wheat Board.
“He’s had little to say in the legislature except with a campaign for an open grain marketing system,” said McDonald.
