The speculation about whether Gerry Ritz would be reappointed for his fourth gig as agriculture minister dating back to 2007 was never about him being out of government favour.
After all, what is there not to like if Stephen Harper was assessing ministerial performance?
Ritz led the successful fight to end the CWB monopoly — a long time Harper goal, spearheaded reforms to the Canadian Grain Commission that will reduce government financial obligations, and convinced provincial governments last year to substantially reduce farm safety net obligations, saving potentially several billion dollars when farm commodity prices go south again.
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He also largely silenced the often-noisy and demanding farm lobby by early-on setting out his rules — you buy into my agenda or you are outside my consultation circle.
Most farm leaders meekly decided it was better to be at the consultations than to be outside the door demonstrating.
That approach, plus some of the best farmgate incomes in history, has made one of the traditionally most politically troublesome and noisy lobby groups one of the most silent and compliant.
Few prime ministers or agriculture ministers in Canadian history have had such luxury of farm lobby public silence about farm sector needs and demands.
Besides, coming from Reform roots that considered protectionism and central control of farm marketing as the root of much agriculture sector evil, Ritz converted himself from an anti-protectionism Reformer with little time for supply management marketing boards to one of the most effective ministerial defenders of the system since Eugene Whelan.
His performance has won universal praise from supply management leaders. The rural support that flows from that has not gone unnoticed in the prime minister’s office and the Conservative party.
So on a list of items given to him in 2007 by Harper in the mandate letter given to all ministers, Ritz surely has checked them all off and added a few accomplishments of his own.
Of course, his performance and bull-in-a-China-shop style have made enemies among some farm groups and government critics.
Harper likely considers that a badge of honour.
So the question of whether Ritz would not keep his cabinet job in the July 15 shuffle was never about him falling out of favour with the boss.
It was whether he would commit to another six years in government, agreeing to run again in 2015.
There was much speculation about whether, after 16 years in Parliament, much of his agenda accomplished and a lucrative pension waiting, he really would want to commit to political life until age 68.
One of Harper’s questions as he tried to put a new face on cabinet was: are you running again in 2015? If not, step aside.
Ritz said he made it clear he is committed to running again.
“As long as I think I have something positive to give and the constituents of Battlefords-Lloydminster want me, I will serve at their pleasure,” he said July 15.
When Harper heard those words, why would he have changed ministers?
It’s been working so far.
