P.E.I. has voice in federal cabinet again as Heath MacDonald named agriculture minister
Malpeque MP now representing P.E.I. in cabinet, after Lawrence MacAulay's retirement
Prince Edward Island once again has representation at the federal cabinet table.
Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Malpeque MP Heath MacDonald as Canada's new minister of agriculture and agri-food Tuesday. As usual, he will be the sole voice for Canada's smallest province in the federal cabinet.
It first became clear that MacDonald was in the cabinet at about 10:30 a.m. AT, when he was spotted walking with other cabinet members to Rideau Hall near downtown Ottawa, the official residence of Canada's Governor General.
About an hour and a half later, his specific portfolio was announced.
MacDonald is a former provincial finance minister who has held Malpeque for the Liberals since 2021. He was re-elected in the April 28 general election with 57.6 per cent of the vote in the central P.E.I. riding.
The agriculture portfolio was previously held by former P.E.I. MP Lawrence MacAulay, first from 2015 to 2019, and then again from 2023 until March this year.
The Malpeque riding was previously represented by Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who was Canada's solicitor general from 2002 to 2003, and then from 2004 to 2006 served as parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, with a special emphasis on rural development.
P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative premier, Rob Lantz, was quick to congratulate MacDonald.
"Islanders will be looking to Minister MacDonald to be a strong voice for Prince Edward Island at the cabinet table and to help deliver on the commitments made during the recent federal campaign," he said in a statement.
"One of those commitments was to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and ferry, something our government has long advocated for. Islanders expect to see that promise fulfilled. We will continue to push for the full removal of tolls to ensure fair, affordable access to and from our province."
Minister urged to address issues
Rita Jackson, a district director for the National Farmers Union on P.E.I., said she hopes MacDonald will take on some of the pressing issues facing the province's farming community, including the loss of farmland.
"At the current rate, we will have lost half of our farming land by 2050. Now, 2050 is only 25 years away. It's nothing. It goes by in the blink of an eye," she told CBC News Tuesday afternoon.
Jackson said it's also important for the federal government to support new and aspiring farmers, who face high barriers to entry, especially when it comes to the cost of land.
"If you want to buy a smallish farm... let's say 120 acres, the asking price is $1 million. Now, if you get a $1 million mortgage to buy your farm over 25 years at five per cent, it's going to cost you just a little bit under $70,000 a year. How are you going to make $70,000 a year farming?"
Jackson, who is also a farmer herself, said the government should consider offering more financial support to farmers, such as a basic income tied to sustainable agricultural practices like improving soil health, planting trees and protecting water and wildlife.
"We as farmers do all of that, and we're not compensated for it," she said.
While Jackson said she looks forward to seeing what MacDonald will do in his new role, she noted she hasn't had much luck getting in touch with him so far, even though he's her MP.
"I've called him on a number of occasions about different things, and I've never spoken to him. He never called back," she said. "Well, Heath, first of all, I want you to give me a call. Call me back. You've got my number. I've left at least 15 messages about various things."
Tariffs 'number one' issue for Potato Board
Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, shares some of Jackson's concerns but another one tops his own list.
"Those are issues that impact all of us, regardless of what we do, but certainly in addition to those issues, tariffs," he said.
"Back in December, we had a list of... challenges, and tariffs weren't even on that list."
Now, he said: "It has been number one."
After that come animal and plant health concerns.
"Not unique to the potato sector, but you know, these days in the beef, dairy, poultry [sectors], there's always plant and animal issues. There's climate, weather issues that we're dealing with," Donald said.
CFIA's risk management questioned
Donald Killorn, the executive director of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture, thinks MacDonald should look into how the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is operating.
"The CFIA has been an issue growing food," he said. "They are an asset to Canadians and in our trade relationships at times, but they have made it more difficult for us to sell potatoes to the U.S. Anything that does that is problematic.
"I think across the whole country, farmers have issues with how the CFIA is managing risk."
Killorn said he hopes having a minister from the Island will give the federation a "strong position" when it comes to access.
"In the long term, we need a minister who has the mandate and the support to take on the CFIA and make sure that works better for our members."