In late 2006, former Canadian Wheat Board president Greg Arason did the Conservative government and then-agriculture minister Chuck Strahl a favour by agreeing to take on the wheat board job again.
Strahl had just fired former president Adrian Measner because of his opposition to the government’s agenda to end the CWB monopoly.
Arason agreed to come out of retirement to fill in until a permanent replacement was found. The assignment that lasted until early 2008 when Australian Ian White was appointed.
This week, Strahl, who is now transportation minister, appointed Arason to the board of directors of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, effective Jan. 1, 2011.
He lauded Arason’s time at the wheat board from 1998-2002 and 2006-08, his 27-year career with Manitoba Pool Elevators that ended in the chief executive officer’s office, and his chairmanship of the Chamber of Maritime Commerce.
“His transportation and marketing expertise will be a valuable asset to the board,” Strahl said when announcing the appointment.
A key component of the Port of Thunder Bay that the Port Authority oversees are the terminal elevators that are transfer points for prairie grain heading to market through the Great Lakes.
