Alberta’s newest agriculture minister will call upon his agricultural work ethic to lead him through his new job.
Evan Berger, a southern Alberta mixed farmer, was named agriculture minister Oct. 12 by Alberta’s new premier, Alison Redford.
“What I bring to the table is a work ethic I know other agricultural producers share,” said Berger of Nanton.
He said he is also counting on his three years as parliamentary assistant for then sustainable resource development minister Mel Knight to help guide him through his new job.
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“I am very honoured and thrilled to be presented with this appointment,” said Berger from his office in the legislature.
Berger was elected in 2008 as the MLA for Livingstone-Macleod but began his political career as a councillor and reeve for the Municipal District of Willow Creek. During his time on council, he spent six years as chair of the Municipal Planning Commission and the Agricultural Service Board.
Berger said his first job would be to get his office set up and “get up to speed” on agricultural files, including meeting with agriculture groups across the province.
“I want to sit down with producers and agriculture groups across the province and ask what they see as some of the problems and pitfalls and some early opportunities,” he said.
Berger said he is fortunate to be taking over the agriculture portfolio in a time of strong prices for grain and livestock and with good yields of grain and grass in the fields.
“The future is very bright for agriculture and there’s lots of room to move in a more positive direction yet,” he said.
Berger spent last winter defending Alberta’s controversial land use bills at public meetings. As part of her election platform, Redford said she wanted to take a second look at the bills in light of the voracious opposition. Berger believes a lot of the opposition was caused by misunderstanding, but he would take his cue from the premier and wait to see what happens to the bills.
He also expects to meet federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz soon to discuss the options and opportunities for Alberta farmers with changes to the Canadian Wheat Board.
