By Roger White

‘It’s just time’: MP Gerry Ritz retires from politics

Aug 31, 2017 | 12:28 PM

One of the longest serving Tory MP’s has called it a career.

Gerry Ritz announced late Wednesday on social media that he would be resigning as the Member of Parliament for Battlefords-Lloydminster.

“I think it’s just time,” Ritz said in an interview with battlefordsNOW. “I’ve been involved in federal politics for almost 25 years so I think the time is right.”

Ritz. 66, began his political career in 1993 as a member of Elwin Hermanson’s staff when he was elected as Reform Party MP for the former riding of Kindersley-Lloydminster.

In 1997 Ritz became the Reform Party Member of Parliament for the newly established riding of Battlefords-Lloydminster.

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He won seven different elections over his 20-year tenure in Ottawa. In 1997 (Reform Party), 2000 (Canadian Alliance), 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015 (Conservative Party).

“I’ve extremely grateful to the people of my riding for seeing fit to give me seven election wins over the year,” Ritz added. “It’s been a tremendous honour.”

From 2007 to 2015, the former farmer from Delisle was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food under then Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government.

“Two things that I am very proud of that we were able to accomplish during my time in government were the changes to the Canadian Wheat Board in 2012 and the establishment of the Value Chain Roundtables for every sector of the agriculture industry,” Ritz said.

In 2008 during the Canadian listeriosis outbreak which resulted in 22 deaths Ritz was quoted as saying: “This is like a death of a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts.”

Then when he had heard of someone dying on Prince Edward Island from the outbreak he quipped, “please let it be Wayne Easter”, who was a sitting Liberal MP in the province.  Prime Minister Harper’s office criticized his remarks calling them tasteless and inappropriate and Ritz later apologized.

When asked if there was any consideration to him leaving federal politics to take a shot at the Sask. Party leadership to replace Premier Brad Wall, Ritz was quick to dispel those rumours.

“I’m sure the timing of my announcement has given some a chuckle at the coffee shops today but I am absolutely not interested in running for Premier Wall’s job,” Ritz said with a laugh.   

Ritz said he informed newly elected Conservative leader Andrew Scheer of his intentions to step down when Scheer called to ask if he would consider being a member of his shadow cabinet.

“When Mr. Scheer became leader we could see there would be some changes which I certainly welcome,” Ritz said. “In our last conversation he said he wanted me to be on his shadow cabinet and that’s when I told him of what my wife Judy and I had decided.”

Ritz explained that before every election campaign he and his wife would talk about the future and if this would be the right time to step down. After the Conservatives lost to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in 2015 and his seven terms, Ritz said it was time.

“Twenty plus years of making that Ottawa trip every week wears a little thin,” Ritz said. “Now I get to work on my wife’s honey-do list which she said should take three years to complete.”

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW