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Federal Conservatives name shadow cabinet

Federal Conservatives name shadow cabinet

Scheer names John Barlow as ag critic

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer revealed the MPs in his party’s caucus who will hold the Trudeau government to account in the House of Commons.

The Conservatives won 121 seats during the October federal election. Scheer has tapped 50 MPs to handle critic duties, with some acting as the critic for more than one portfolio.

As critics, the party representatives will “present their party’s policies on the subject and comment on government policies,” the Guide to the Canadian House of Commons says.

John Barlow, the Alberta MP for Foothills, will be the agriculture critic opposite the Liberal ag minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

He’s taking over for Luc Berthold, the Quebec MP from Mégantic — L’Érable, who will serve as the party’s infrastructure and communities critic to counter the Liberal minister Catherine McKenna.

Richard Lehoux, the Quebec MP from Beauce, will serve as the associate ag critic. 

One of Barlow’s early goals is to educate Minister Bibeau about how decisions in other ministries affect agriculture.

“One of the things that sets agriculture apart from the other portfolios is the fact that it is impacted by decisions made in other ministries,” he told Farms.com. “Whether that’s trade relationships with Global Affairs Canada, the seasonal ag worker program through citizenship and immigration and labour concerns through the ministry of labour.”

Barlow will also advocate for the story of agriculture.

Protestors staged a sit-in inside a barn at turkey farm in his riding in September.

It’s imperative the ag industry talks to Canadians about what it’s doing to raise safe food to prevent these events, he said.

“I think we have to talk about the incredible innovations and technologies happening in agriculture,” Barlow said. “Farmers are always reducing their carbon footprint, and when it comes to environmental stewardship, they do it better than anyone else in the world. I think we’ve lost that message with Canadians, especially in urban centres, so we need to do everything we can to highlight the positives of agriculture.

Scheer also named his rural economic development critic.

Bernard Généreux, the Quebec MP from Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, will oversee that portfolio opposite federal rural economic development minister Maryam Monsef.


Trending Video

US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops

Video: US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops


A dry August and a “flash drought” in the ECB (Eastern Corn Belt) the driest top 10 to 15 years in 150 to 160 years (Ohio the driest in 133 years) plus disease is taking a bite out of the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops.
It's going to be an early harvest. This could be the start of the 89-year drought cycle that may have been delayed until 2026 as La Nina maybe returning.
The USDA September crop report is all about record corn ears and record soybean counts but the October USDA crop report will be about pod and ear weights.
Stats Canada reported higher forecasts for the 2025 Canadian Prairies all wheat and canola crops vs. last year based on satellite imagery but are they overestimating production?
The 2025 Great ON Yield Tour and Quebec crop tours are projecting corn and soybean crops below the 10-year average.
China's Vice Commerce Ministry Li Chenggang visits Washington this week as we continue to connect the dots is a positive sign towards a China/U.S. trade deal. But will U.S. farmers have a winter without China as they buy more soybeans from Uruguay/Argentina? U.S. Northern Plain soybean farmers are seeing red with flat prices at $8.97/bu!
U.S. corn exports on record pace up 99% vs. last year.
Fund short covering continues in corn futures bottom is in!