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: Canada's Agriculture Day 2025

Let's celebrate Canadian agriculture.

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Well, I think it's important that Canadians understand exactly what takes place, what happens to produce this food, no matter what sector you're talking about.

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Canada has the best farmers in the world. And agriculture is vital to Canada.

In 2024, our agriculture and agri-food sector represented $150 billion of Canada's GDP, nearly $100 billion of our exports, and one in nine jobs.

From grains to fruits to dairy and beef, we are truly blessed with an incredible bounty. Having spent my whole life in agriculture, I see so much potential for the sector.

This time last year, I was proud to open our first-ever agriculture and trade office in the Indo-Pacific, the world’s fastest-growing economy, to cement our presence in the region and grow our exports even more. We've also been making historic investments to help our farmers to boost their yields, protect the planet, and earn a fair living.

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That's what Canada's Agriculture Day is all about.