The new agriculture minister is going through with her plan she announced on RealAg Radio this week. Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is headed out west to embark on her first agricultural tour in the new role. Just one week ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a small cabinet shuffle which saw former Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay moved to veteran affairs, and Minister Bibeau moved from international development to agriculture and agri-food.

“This will be an opportunity for me to meet with our world-class farmers and processors, as well as their representatives on the ground. The future of the agriculture sector is full of new possibilities and our Government is committed to contribute to its growth,” Bibeau says.

@realagriculture Enjoyed the interview with @mclaudebibeau yesterday, refreshing to have a female Quebecer fluent in French as ?? #Ag minister~next time, I’d appreciate some questions about Ontario and Quebec agricultural safety net proposals, long denied by Harper and Trudeau — Philip Shaw (@Agridome) March 8, 2019

The minister is slated to meet with farmers, processors and industry leaders, as well as participate in local agricultural events to highlight strategic federal agricultural investments and programs.

She will start off the tour in Vernon, B.C., where she will make an announcement in support of B.C. farmers. Later that day she will visit a fruit market in Kelowna to make an announcement in support of B.C.’s tree fruit industry. The following day she will travel to Calgary, Alta., then cap off the trip in Winnipeg, Man.