Mike Olscamp, the Progressive Conservatives’ opposition critic for agriculture, has been sworn in as New Brunswick’s new minister for agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries.
Olscamp, the MLA for the Sackville-area riding of Tantramar, is a high school teacher by profession and a former vice-principal at Tantramar Regional High School, where he taught history and French before becoming an MLA in 2006.
Olscamp, who was re-elected Sept. 27 in the Tories’ sweep, also served a stint in the early 1990s as director of inmate programs at Westmorland penitentiary.
The federal prison at Dorchester is home to one of six prison farms the federal government recently slated for closure.
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As the Tories’ critic on the ag file during Shawn Graham’s Liberal government’s lone term in office, Olscamp was a presumptive favourite for the ag minister’s job in a caucus with some depth of farming experience, including the new premier’s.
Premier David Alward, a human resources consultant who handled the agriculture portfolio (2003-06) in Bernard Lord’s Tory government and also raises purebred Herefords at Riceville, named himself to the intergovernmental affairs portfolio Tuesday as part of a 15-member cabinet.
Another former ag minister during the Lord administration, Paul Robichaud, was named Tuesday as deputy premier and economic development minister, a portfolio which includes responsibility for rural affairs.
Robichaud, the MLA for Lameque-Shippagan-Miscou since 1999 and a former party organizer, served as ag minister from March 2000 to October 2001.
Claude Williams, the MLA for Kent South since 2001 and a former regional co-ordinator for the provincial agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture department, was named to the transportation and infrastructure file.
Alward’s government didn’t say in its releases Tuesday when the provincial legislature would reconvene.
Dale Graham, a restaurant and bake shop owner and the Tory MLA for Carleton since 1993, has agreed to have his name stand for election as the next speaker of the legislature, Alward noted.
