Lorne Dach (left) is the new agriculture and forestry critic in the Alberta New Democrats’ shadow cabinet. (AlbertaNDP.ca)

West Edmonton MLA named Alberta ag critic

Reading Time: < 1 minute An Edmonton Realtor turned provincial MLA is Alberta’s new official opposition critic for agriculture and forestry. Rachel Notley, leader of the province’s opposition New Democrats, on Monday announced her shadow cabinet and named Lorne Dach, MLA for Edmonton-McClung, as the party’s ag critic. Dach came to the legislature in the 2015 election with a political […] Read more

A rally of 200 people at the legislature on Nov. 27 voicing their displeasure with Bill 6. A second demonstration three days later drew 1,000 people, prompting the NDP government to amend the bill.

The national cost of Alberta’s Bill 6

Farm outrage at the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act may have already backfired

Reading Time: 5 minutes As 2015 came to a close, Canadians watched Alberta farmers hold massive rallies against legislation intended to improve farm safety. They listened to farmers raging against the costs Bill 6 would impose on their operations, with farmers saying the legislation will destroy family farms. They heard farmers complain they hadn’t been consulted in the drafting […] Read more


Oneil Carlier, shown here in an NDP video posted May 5 on YouTube, is Alberta’s new minister for agriculture, forestry and rural development. (YouTube.com)

Alberta NDP taps ex-AAFC staffer as ag minister

Reading Time: 2 minutes A former technician with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been named as the Alberta New Democrats’ first minister of agriculture, forestry and rural development. Premier Rachel Notley on Sunday named Whitecourt-Ste. Anne MLA Oneil Carlier to the now-expanded portfolio, which takes over responsibility for forestry from the department of environment and sustainable resource development. Including Notley […] Read more

(Assembly.ab.ca)

NDP wave pulls down Alta. Tories, ag minister

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s incumbent agriculture and rural development minister is among the casualties of the provincial New Democrats’ unprecedented majority in Tuesday’s election. Verlyn Olson, the MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose since 2008, the province’s ag and rural development minister since 2012, and its acting justice minister for about a week and a half, was downed by NDP candidate […] Read more