The Conservative shadow cabinet has been announced and Gerry Ritz will take on duties as international trade critic.
The appointment was made Friday, Nov. 20. The Conservatives have been busy putting together the team that will take on opposition roles when the House of Commons reconvenes in December.
In a statement, Ritz, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster in the House of Commons, welcomed his appointment.
“I am honoured to have been chosen as international trade critic,” said Ritz. “I believe that with my years of negotiating trade deals for the Canadian agriculture sector, I have the necessary qualifications to hold the Liberals to account. During the last nine years, the Conservatives signed 38 trade agreements, more than any other government in Canadian history.”
He said the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership were two of the largest trade negotiations ever successfully undertaken by a Canadian government, and are currently awaiting ratification.
“I will be holding the Liberals’ feet to the fire,” Ritz added. “I will make sure they don’t renege on Canada’s commitment to the global supply chain. Canada cannot be an island, the market place is global, and to remain relevant Canada must continue to adapt. As an MP from Saskatchewan, I look forward to working with my provincial colleagues to ensure a continued engagement on international trade.”
On the receiving end of Ritz’s questions in the House will be Chrystia Freeland, a former financial journalist and Toronto MP, who was appointed minister of international trade by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this year.
There will also be critics duties assigned to the MP for the adjoining Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek riding. Third-term MP Kelly Block has been named transport critic and will be shadowing Marc Garneau in that role.
“It is an honour to serve Canadians and our Conservative caucus as the critic for transport,” said Kelly Block. “As Canada is the second largest country in the world, transportation is extremely important to our economic growth.”
Two rookie MPs are also getting responsibilities. Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen has been named critic for sport. Getting deputy critic duties is new Saskatoon-area MP Kevin Waugh who has been named deputy critic for Canadian heritage and national historic sites.
Earlier this week, former Speaker Andrew Scheer was named Opposition house leader.
"I believe the team we have assembled will be the strongest official Opposition this country has ever seen," said Conservative Opposition Leader Rona Ambrose in a statement.
“I am proud to lead this team of talented and respected individuals from across Canada. Together, we will ask the government the tough questions and hold them to account.”
The Liberal cabinet was sworn in Nov. 4 and the lone Saskatchewan Liberal MP Ralph Goodale was sworn in as minister of Public Safety, a file that includes significant responsibility for national security.
