He resigned Friday citing his “personal conduct with regards to alcohol”
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Devin Dreeshen is no longer Alberta’s minister of agriculture and forestry.
“This morning, I offered Premier Jason Kenney my resignation as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and he has accepted,” Dreeshen tweeted on Nov. 5. “I accept that my personal conduct with regards to alcohol has become an issue for the government as a whole.
“I deeply regret that this is the case, but have decided that it is best for both myself and the province to resign my position and focus on my personal health and wellness.”
The 33-year-old will remain the MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.
Premier Kenney has appointed Nate Horner, the associate minister of rural economic development and MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, as the new minister of agriculture and forestry.
Dreeshen’s resignation came after he was named in a lawsuit against the premier’s office.
Ariella Kimmel, a former chief of staff to the minister of jobs, economy and innovation, filed a statement of claim last month.
The document includes an allegation of Mr. Dreeshen being heavily intoxicated in October 2020 in his office and yelling at Kimmel to the point where a bystander intervened, Global News reported. The document also notes Dreeshen and Kimmel were previously in an on-again, off-again romantic relationship.
None of the allegations in the statement of claim have been proven in court.
Farms.com has contacted Minister Horner for comment on getting up to speed on the ag file and preparing for the federal-provincial-territorial ag ministers meeting later this month.
All of Canada’s agriculture ministers are scheduled to meet on Nov. 9 and 10 to discuss business risk management program improvements.