Conservative Ag Critic disappointed to see MacAulay returned as Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister

It's been one week since the Prime Minister shuffled his cabinet.

John Barlow, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food says he's disappointed with the decision to return Lawrence MacAulay to the role of Federal Agriculture Minister.

"This is the agriculture minister, who told me in question period, that he's talked to lots of farmers and they all support the carbon tax. Well, it's very clear that Mr. MacAulay has never actually talked to any farmers because I haven't talked to a single one that thinks that the carbon tax is a benefit to Canadian agriculture and a farmer's bottom line."

 Barlow says Minister MacAulay was in the role during some other key decisions that impacted farmers negatively and he didn't defend our producers.

"Whether it's the crushing ban on exporting PEI potatoes,  which is in his own province and he never said a word about it, to the carbon tax, to warning labels on Canadian food products. All of these things happened under his watch and not only did he not defend Canadian farmers, but he actually defended these liberal policies that have made Canadian agriculture that much more difficult."

He points out that the feeling at the time was that this really shows where agriculture is as a priority for the Trudeau Government ..  and that means that it's not a priority. 

"So, to go back to that is very frustrating and sends a very clear message to Canadian producers that agriculture is just not a priority for the Trudeau liberals. Not that that's really a surprise."

Barlow says he doesn't see Minister MacAulay as someone who is going to have a fire in his belly to stand up and push back and be a strong advocate for Canadian Agriculture on issues here at home and around the world.

To hear Don McCracken's conversation with John Barlow, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food click on the link below.