New ag minister in Nfld. following mini cabinet shuffle

Jun 19, 2023

Elvis Loveless is the new minister for fisheries, forestry and agriculture

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador have a different representative in the provincial legislature following a cabinet shuffle.

Premier Andrew Furey appointed Elvis Loveless (pictured above), the representative for Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune, to handle the portfolio on June 14.

This will be the second time Loveless oversees the ag portfolio as he served in this role in the Furey government from August 2020 to April 2021.

Loveless takes over for Derrick Bragg, who will now serve as a minister without portfolio.

This change comes as Bragg undergoes cancer treatment.

He shared his diagnosis on social media on June 11.

“I’m not the first, nor, sadly will not the last to hear this horrible word," he said in a Facebook post. “Your mind takes you to places you never knew existed.”

Being a minister without portfolio allows Bragg to support the government while he receives his treatments.

Loveless becoming the ag minister once again means Newfoundlanders and Labradorians also have a new minister of transportation.

John Abbott, the member for St. John’s East – Auidi Vidi, steps into this role, in addition to being the minister responsible for the public procurement agency.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm