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Serving Agriculture:
Canada's Ministers of Agriculture

William Hunter McKnight

Birthplace

Federal Constituency

Education

Professional Background

Political Affiliation

"In 1977 and 1978, I got disgusted . . . I wanted to make a change for my province, for Canada I guess, and I decided I was bloody well going to run."
-- Bill McKnight, 1988 interview

Political Career

After three years as president of the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan from 1974 to 1977, McKnight was elected MP for Kindersley-Lloydminster in 1979. He was re-elected in the next three federal elections.

When the Conservatives took office in 1984, McKnight was appointed minister of labour and minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In 1986, he switched portfolios and became the minister of Indian affairs and northern development. He added to this assignment the role of minister responsible for western economic diversification in 1987.

McKnight left these portfolios for defence in 1989 and switched assignments yet again in 1991 when he succeeded Don Mazankowski as minister of agriculture. McKnight had a reputation as a straightforward, competent and down-to-earth minister.

His final cabinet assignment was as minister of energy, mines and resources from January to October 1993. He retired from federal politics before the 1993 general election.

McKnight currently serves as chair of NAFTA Trade Consultants Inc. and Anvil Range Mining Corp. He is also on the board of directors of five different commercial enterprises and served as the honorary consul to Ecuador in 1995.

Industry Issues

Trade issues, particularly those arising from North American Free Trade Agreement and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations and specific commodity disputes, continued to affect international market development.

Industry groups consulted with government officials to find ways to streamline government operations and harmonize federal and provincial regulations while still providing agri-businesses with the support they needed to compete internationally.

Departmental Developments

During McKnight's time as minister, the department continued to focus on the four priorities established during Mazankowski's tenure: market orientation, regional diversity, greater self-reliance and environmental sustainability. Extensive industry consultations continued to shape program and regulatory reviews within the department.

Accomplishments as Minister

The Trade Opportunities Strategy, announced in November 1992, funded market development initiatives introduced by industry, especially for value-added products. Regional trade contacts across Canada co-ordinated information to help External Affairs and International Trade Canada resolve international trade disputes. Agri-food specialists based at Canadian embassies in strategic international markets worked to improve access for Canadian exports and to provide market intelligence.

An export advisory committee led by industry offered suggestions on trade strategy and the integration of government resources for trade policy and market development. In partnership with the Canadian meat industry, the department developed new international training programs to increase foreign customers' awareness of and demand for Canadian red meat products.

McKnight introduced "check-off" legislation into the House of Commons to allow commodity groups to collect levies on domestic sales and imports to fund their commodity research and promotional activities.

The National Farm Business Management Program provided $10 million in annual federal funding, matched by provincial funding, to improve farm sector competitiveness by training producers in marketing and promotion, accounting and computer technology.

Agriculture Canada contributed $7 million in research and development funding to the federal Ethanol Action Plan to reduce the cost of ethanol production and establish a potential growth market for renewable fuels made from agricultural commodities.

McKnight also worked to implement the federal Green Plan Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. This initiative provided $170 million over six years for programs to promote environmentally sound practices in the agri-food sector. The provinces shared the costs of these programs with the federal government.

Worth Noting

• McKnight shared an apartment with Don Mazankowski during their time as fellow MPs and cabinet ministers in Ottawa.