Charles (Charlie) Mayer, who held the ag portfolio from Jan. 4 to Nov. 4, 1993, died in Manitoba at the age of 89.
Born in Saskatchewan, in 1965, he purchased a farm near Cranberry, Man., where he grew grain, potatoes and raised Simmental cattle.
He became president of the Manitoba Beef Growers Association and opposed supply management in the beef industry.
His community sent him to the House of Commons in 1979 as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the brand-new riding of Portage-Marquette. He won the riding again in 1980 and 1984. In 1988 he was the MP for Lisgar-Marquette.
“My riding is a great productive agricultural one,” he said in the House on July 17, 1980. Not only are vegetables grown in the riding, but they are also processed at Portage la Prairie and Carberry. Many diverse crops are grown. We also find considerable livestock including both cattle and hogs. I thank the people of Portage-Marquette for seeing fit to return me here for a second term in this House of Commons.”