Team Alberta welcomes new Minister of Agriculture and looks forward to working together on farmers’ top priorities

(Calgary, Alberta) April 30, 2019 – Today, Team Alberta welcomes the province’s new Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Devin Dreeshen. Team Alberta looks forward to working with Minister Dreeshen and fellow members of cabinet on advancing Alberta’s $6 billion crop sector.

Minister Dreeshen is the Member-elect for the Innisfail – Sylvan Lake riding. Minister Dreeshen was raised in central Alberta on his family farm near Pine Lake and studied Economics and Political Science at the University of Alberta. In 2008, he started working for the Honourable Gerry Ritz, former federal minister of agriculture in the Harper Conservative Government. Over the eight years, Minister Dreeshen worked in communications and policy promoting grain transportation and international trade; most notably on the introduction of marketing freedom for wheat and barley farmers.

Team Alberta is a collaboration of four of the province’s crop commissions: Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growers and the Alberta Wheat Commission. Our key priorities aim at improving the economic success of farmers through:

• Continued access to international markets for nearly $5 billion of Alberta crop exports;
• Enhanced competitiveness through research and innovation;
• Recognition of agriculture’s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exemption from carbon levies for all sources of energy used on farm; and
• Reducing regulatory hurdles.

Team Alberta is eager to work with the new minister, the department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) on matters that impact Alberta farmers. Further, Team Alberta extends congratulations to all cabinet ministers upon today’s appointments.

Media Contacts:

Erin Tateson
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions
etateson@albertawheatbarley.com
403-219-7902

Rachel Peterson
Communications Coordinator
Alberta Pulse Growers
rpeterson@albertapulse.com
780-986-9398 ext. 108

Michelle Chunyua
Communications Coordinator
Alberta Canola
michelle@albertacanola.com
780-454-0844