Former Manitoba agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk admits that the decade she spent in that portfolio has made her a few enemies.
But as with most people in public office, she has learned to accept that as part of the job.
“It comes with the territory. If you take on the responsibility of a minister you will please some people and others will be dissatisfied, but I’m very proud of my record,” she said.
Wowchuk, who served as Manitoba’s agriculture minister since 1999, worked her last day in the role Nov. 2. She is now the province’s finance minister, following a cabinet shuffle at the Manitoba legislature.
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Although she was only out of her job a few hours, Wowchuk said last week that she’ll miss dealing with farmers and ag business leaders.
Looking back at her tenure, she identified the processing industry as a regret and an accomplishment.
“I think one of my biggest disappointments was that we tried so hard to get Rancher’s Choice up and running,” she said, referring to a proposed federally licensed slaughter plant in Dauphin.
“Had we done that, we would see a big difference in the beef industry right now.”
On the positive side, Wowchuk pointed to Manitoba’s food processing research and development.
“I’m always the proudest of the work we’ve done on the Food Development Centre (in Portage). That, to me, is a jewel that’s there to help us move further into food processing.”
Wowchuk also mentioned she was proud of her open door policy and willingness to listen to producers.
That trait made an impression on Rob Pettinger, president of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association.
“I always found her very co-operative and very understanding of the agriculture industry,” he said.
“And always eager to hear from the different organizations … to get input from us.”
Ian Wishart, president of the Keystone Agriculture Producers, said Wowchuk’s lengthy tenure brought stability and helped advance the interests of Manitoba’s farmers.
“She was fairly effective at the national level because of her longevity…. (which) gave Manitoba a lot of credibility at the national table,” Wishart said.
As the longest serving agriculture minister in Canada, Wowchuk worked with several federal ag ministers, including Gerry Ritz.
“Minister Wowchuk has been a strong advocate of the farmer and I appreciated that when it came to getting the job done for Manitoba agriculture, she was not afraid of getting her hands dirty,” Ritz said in an e-mail.
“Her frankness, co-operation and dedication to the industry will be missed but Manitoba’s budget will be in good hands with Rosann at the helm.”
Alberta agriculture minister George Groeneveld said his strong relationship with Wowchuk trumped their philosophical differences.
“She’s a great ally for Western Canada and she looks at the big picture from right across Canada. We’re going to miss her at that table,” he said.
“Personally, I’m certainly going to miss her…. We got along great.”
