REGINA – Eric Upshall has been named Saskatchewan’s minister of agriculture and food in a cabinet shuffle Nov. 22.
The 44-year-old MLA for Humboldt takes over from Andy Renaud, who held the portfolio since the defeat of Darrel Cunningham in the June provincial election. Renaud retains the highways and transportation ministry.
Upshall was raised on a farm near Saltcoats in east-central Saskatchewan and has farmed near Young since 1974.
A member of the local Saskatchewan Wheat Pool committee and the National Farmers Union, Upshall was first elected to the legislature in 1986 and served as agriculture critic until 1991.
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Upon his re-election that same year he became chair of the NDP agriculture caucus.
“I’ve been active in farm policy from the lobbying end of it,” he said last week. “Now I hope to do some of the things I’ve always said could be accomplished.”
Top priorities
Upshall identified grain transportation and marketing as issues to be dealt with immediately.
He said farmers need information to make decisions in a rapidly changing environment and there needs to be better communication among all partners – farmers, grain companies, petrochemical companies and government.
Upshall’s appointment was among several announced by premier Roy Romanow last week. Ministers to retain their portfolios are Janice MacKinnon, finance; Pat Atkinson, education; Eldon Lautermilch, energy and mines; and Doug Anguish, labor.
Dwain Lingenfelter retained economic development and added the job of deputy premier.
Other ministers who had their responsibilities changed were: Bob Mitchell, now responsible for post-secondary education and skills training; Lorne Calvert, social services; Berny Wiens, Crown Investments Corp.; Ned Shillington, intergovernmental relations and provincial secretary; Keith Goulet, northern affairs; and Joanne Crofford added Indian and Metis affairs to her gaming and status of women portfolios.
Newcomers include Eric Cline, health; Lorne Scott, environment; John Nilson, justice and attorney general; Clay Serby, Saskatchewan Property Management Corp. and minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Returning to cabinet as minister of municipal government is Carol Teichrob. She resigned as education minister in 1993 when her family was negotiating with Agricultural Credit Corp. of Saskatchewan.
