For Immediate Release August 16, 2007

“The Appointment of a Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister is
good news for Saskatchewan”, says Komarnicki

Estevan (August 16, 2007) -- Ed Komarnicki, M.P., Souris- Moose Mountain
“Agriculture and the viability of the agricultural industry is of vital importance to Saskatchewan. I was therefore quite pleased with the appointment of Saskatchewan M.P. Gerry Ritz as the Federal Agriculture Minister”, said Komarnicki.

“He is from Saskatchewan, he has a farming background and an intimate understanding of the urgent issues facing Saskatchewan farmers. He chaired and sat on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food and many of the issues important to Saskatchewan farmers have passed through his hands. He is very knowledgeable in this area and so he’s a good pick”, stated Komarnicki.

Komarnicki went on to say, “Minister Ritz is a straight shooter, he gets right down to business and has little time for bureaucratic red tape. Most farmers don’t. Farmers want more simplicity to farm programs and better response time to their needs. The current CAIS program doesn’t meet those expectations. There is probably no better man then Minister Ritz to ensure these programs don’t go off the rails by being bogged down by bureaucratic red tape”.

“Also”, stated Komarnicki “many farmers want more options in marketing their grain and I think Minister Ritz will do what he can to make that happen. Time will tell but this appointment I believe will be seen by many as a breath of fresh air in the farming community. All in all this is good news for Saskatchewan”.