Vancouver – On January, 30th Premier Gordon Campbell announced the appointment of Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon as Minister of Agriculture and Lands.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is responsible for agriculture; aquaculture; food industry development; animal health and crop protection; food safety and quality; allocation of Crown land; commercial fisheries and fish processing; aquaculture licensing and regulation; soil management; weed control; crop insurance as well as the Integrated Land Management Bureau. The ministry is also responsible for the BC Farm Industry Review Board, Agriculture Land Commission, BC Wine Institute and Muskwa Kechika Advisory Board.
Cantelon was elected on May 17, 2005 in the riding of Nanaimo-Parksville. He has previously served on the B.C. Agriculture Plan Committee and the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture. He currently serves as chair of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth and as chair of the Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act. He is also a member of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the Special Committee of Selection, Treasury Board and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development.