Lewis is a past president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
Gray, Sask. grain farmer Todd Lewis is one of Canada’s newest senators.
The farmer, past president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and current first vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, received the appointment from Prime Minister Trudeau on Feb. 7.
Many people in Canada’s ag community are pleased with this appointment.
“Another farm voice & ag champion in Ottawa!” Cathy Lennon, general manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said on X. “Todd Lewis, farmer, farm leader, proud family man & friend has been appointed to the Senate alongside friends (Mary Robinson) and (Rob Black). This is extraordinary good news for Saskatchewan, and for all of Canadian ag.”
Sens. Black and Robinson also supported the appointment, saying it’s great news and is good for Canadian agriculture.
As did federal minister of agriculture Lawrence MacAulay.
“Congratulations to my good friend Todd Lewis on being appointed to the Senate,” he said on X. “So pleased to see another strong voice for agriculture in the “other place”!
The prime minister visited the Lewis family farm in April 2017.
The visit at the time was organized to help Trudeau understand how the carbon tax affects farmers.
"There's lots of work due for the recognition that agriculture is part of the solution, not the problem," Lewis said at the time, the Canadian Press reported. "Intuitively, farmers recognize you burn fuel, you spend more money, so intuitively for years, we've been on the carbon band wagon just from the practices we do."
Prime Minister Trudeau appointed two other senators on Feb. 7.
Baltej Dhillon, a retired police officer, will represent B.C.
And Martine Hébert, an economist and former Quebec diplomat, represents Quebec in the Senate