Tory MP who resigned last week now named CEO, president of CropLife Canada

OTTAWA – A former Conservative MP will still be working out of Ottawa, only now as president and CEO of CropLife Canada.

Ted Menzies resigned his southern Alberta seat in the House of Commons last week saying “other exciting opportunities” had come up.

On Tuesday, CropLife Canada announced Menzies will be taking over the top job at the company.

CropLife Canada represents companies that develop, manufacture and distribute pest control products and plant biotechnology.

Menzies, lauded on all sides of the Commons as a well-liked and respected MP, was first elected in Macleod in 2004 and won re-election three times.

The 61-year-old farmer was named junior minister for finance in January 2011, but took himself out of cabinet consideration before last summer’s shuffle by saying he wouldn’t run again.

He was born in Claresholm and for nearly 30 years he and his wife operated Section One Farm Ltd., growing wheat, barley, canola, field peas, lentils, chickpeas and spice crops.

“As a farmer, I have always been interested in how technology can improve operations,” Menzies said in a news release.

“I saw firsthand the role that pesticides and plant biotechnology play in increasing yields and helping improve the farm environment. I know how important these technologies are for farmers and that’s a very big part of why I am so excited about this next phase in my career.”

(CJOC, The Canadian Press)