Lianne Rood played a role in writing federal legislation that ended the Canadian Wheat Board’s marketing monopoly
The Conservative party’s new agriculture critic is not new to agriculture.
Lianne Rood, who represents Lambton-Kent-Middlesex in Ontario, grew up on a potato farm, lived for a time in Saskatchewan, and was involved in drafting the details of the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.
“I do still have some potatoes,” she said last week after her appointment was announced, noting that she was involved in the family’s vegetable operation until she was elected in 2019.
She won her riding after long-time Conservative MP Bev Shipley, who also served as the agriculture critic, chose not to run again.
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While working in the Stephen Harper government, she spent three years working with former Saskatchewan MP David Anderson when he was parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.
“The file I worked on was the Canadian Wheat Board so I worked with grains and oilseeds farmers,” Rood said. “I really got neck deep in learning about the commodities out West and how they work.”
She also said four years living in Saskatchewan in the 1990s gave her some background in how western farming differs from the vegetable farm where she grew up.
“I think the agriculture portfolio is so diverse,” she said. “I have a working knowledge of a lot of the sectors.”
But Rood said she looks forward to learning more.
Sitting as deputy critic to John Barlow and as a member of the agriculture committee since she was elected has given her some appreciation for changes that need to be made to business risk management programs, she said.
“It’s not a one size fits all,” she said.
The committee had studied BRM programs and was working on a report when Parliament was prorogued earlier this summer. It returns Sept. 23 with a throne speech and several confidence votes and Rood said what happens after that may determine how quickly change comes.
Agriculture ministers are scheduled to meet in mid-October for their annual meeting.
“Agriculture is a key foundation of our country,” Rood added. “We know that our farm families are a critical pillar of our communities. I look forward to working closely with leaders and industry.”
Some of the other key appointments to Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s shadow cabinet include Dan Albas from B.C. as environment and climate change critic, Alberta MP Stephanie Kusie to transport, former leader and Saskatchewan MP Andrew Scheer to infrastructure and communities, and B.C.’s Tracy Gray to international trade. Manitoba MP James Bezan retains national defence.
