Just days after resigning from his parliamentary future Ted Menzies, former Member of Parliament for Macleod, said he is returning to agriculture.
Ted Menzies farmed north of Claresholm, Alberta for many years before being elected to parliament in 2004. Now, he’s going back to agriculture to become president and CEO of CropLife Canada.
“It was not an easy decision,” Menzies said. “I enjoyed my 9 1/2 years in political life. But I was a farmer before that and it’s exciting to go back into agriculture in a different role.”
Menzies held several positions while in government, including Federal Minister of State for Finance and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Before entering politics he was involved in several farm organizations including the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Western Canadian Wheat Growers, and Grain Growers of Canada.
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When asked about leaving government before the end of the current session in 2015 he said, “I think I’ve served my constituents well I don’t think there’s any unfinished business.”
CropLife Canada, the organization Menzies will lead represents companies that develop, make and sell plant biotechnology and pest control products. Its head offices are in Ottawa.
Many people in the Macleod Constituency are sorry to see Menzies go. “He had been a well loved person in this town and people wish him all the best,” said Eileen Joubert.
A man said, “He’s done a good job for us. He’s a Claresholm boy. He was raised in Claresholm, I went to school with his brother Bob. He was a farmer and he’s done great as a politician.” When asked what he thinks about Menzies leaving mid-term he said, “Well, I guess that’s his choice.”
“It’s great to have a federal member of parliament here in our town that we could access,” said another person. “I enjoyed having him here and I wish him all the best in his new endeavors.”
However some tweets aren’t as nice. One reads, “Any respect I had for MP turned lobbyist Ted Menzies is now gone”
Menzies will become president and CEO of Crop Life Canada on January first. The chair of CropLife Canada’s board of directors said Menzies’ extensive agricultural background and ability to collaborate with others will serve the industry well.
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