With Premier Alison Redford’s cabinet shuffle and downsizing, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Evan Berger has been handed the agriculture portfolio, putting Jack Hayden out of a ministerial job.
Berger was announced as the new minister Oct. 12, five days after Redford was sworn in as premier. Redford removed Jack Hayden from his job after 22 months and shuffled him to tourism, parks and recreation.
“This cabinet reflects what changes look like,” said Redford. “It’s a team that’s committed to listening to Albertans, and getting to work right away on bringing the change Albertans want and expect.
Prior to this new posting in agriculture, the High River native was parliamentary assistant to the minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Berger did not return requests for an interview.
In his first provincial election in 2008, Berger won with 64 per cent of the vote, beating Liberal Mike Judd’s 16 per cent. Following his appointment, Berger now sits on the government’s treasury board, operations committee and energy committees.
Prior to joining provincial politics, Berger sat as a councillor in the MD of Willow Creek for 16 years. Nine of those years were spent as reeve and six as chair of the Municipal Planning Commission and Agricultural Service Board.
Berger will have a host of new agricultural organizations to liaise with including the Alberta Barley Commission (ABC).
“We’re looking forward to working with the new minister,” said Matt Sawyer, ABC Region 2 director. “We always got along fine (with Jack Hayden) and we’re expecting a smooth transition.”
Sawyer said the ABC and its members are looking forward to the end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly, and said Berger has the same position as Hayden regarding the board.
“Hopefully, they’ll be supportive of new innovative ideas as a result of this new open market,” said Sawyer.
Wildrose party leader Danielle Smith is already questioning Berger’s appointment.
“He’s got a lot of ground to make up with landowners,” said Smith.
Bills 19, 24, 36 and 50 — all relating to property rights and the development of electrical infrastructure in the province — threaten landowners’ sovereignty, according to Smith. She accused Berger of travelling the province “selling these terrible bills” to Albertans.
“It has our countryside up in arms,” she said.
Throughout the PC party’s leadership campaign, supporters of some of the bills including Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton, have come out against the Stelmach-era bills.
The official Opposition Liberals declined comment on Berger’s appointment.
