About Gerry

Hon. Gerry Ritz was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997, and re-elected Member of Parliament for Battlefords-Lloydminster in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

 

Gerry is the current Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.  He was first sworn in to the position in August 2007 and returned again October 30, 2008 following the 2008 general election. In addition, Gerry is the senior cabinet minister for the province of Saskatchewan. Previously, he served in the current government as Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism.

 

Gerry became interested in politics in 1989 and held various positions on the local constituency board for the Reform Party before his own election to parliament. As an MP, he served as chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food and while in Opposition, Gerry was in the shadow cabinet as Agriculture critic, Public Works and Government Services critic as well as Deputy Whip and Question Period Coordinator.

 

Gerry has been actively involved in community, serving on the local Economic Development Committee, Knights of Columbus, and as a minor hockey coach. He loves the outdoors including: sports, hunting, fishing, raising horses and working on machinery.

 

Gerry was born in 1951 in Delisle, Saskatchewan and was raised on the family farm. He attended school in Delisle and Rosetown. Entering the workforce right after high school, Gerry's endeavours have included sales, co-ownership of a community newspaper, general contracting as well as grain and ostrich farming.   Gerry and his wife Judy live at Brightsand Lake, SK. They have two married children and three grandchildren.

 

         

 

The Work of an MP/Cabinet Minister        

 

The House of Commons is in session Mondays to Fridays from mid-September to mid-June.

Except for Fridays and for times of late night or emergency debates, the House adjourns daily at 7 p.m.  MPs fly to and from their riding on many weekends to attend to constituency business and spend time with their families. Cabinet ministers, including Gerry as Minister of Agriculture, usually have additional weekend travel and duties related to their portfolio.

 

When the House is sitting, Members of Parliament participate in debates on legislation before the House, daily Question Period, Standing House Committee Hearings and any number of special Caucuses and Parliamentary Associations. Ministers have many added responsibilities including presentation of bills and attendance at cabinet committee meetings. In addition to regular cabinet meetings, Gerry serves on the Government Operations and Economic Growth.

Aside from time in the Chamber and at committee meetings, a typical day in the life of an MP is filled with meetings, activities and other duties that often start before breakfast and end well into the evening. There may be media interviews, a meeting with a visiting constituent to discuss a federal program,  special events and ceremonies to attend, letters, phone calls and faxes to answer and, in the case of ministers, briefings to attend, stakeholders to meet and announcements to make.