Ritz Pleased With Trip To Morocco

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is pleased with the Memorandum of Understanding signed this week with Morocco.

Ritz is also working on establishing a free trade agreement adding that Morocco is an important market for us, “Canada is the top supplier of durham wheat to Morocco with nearly one hundred and seventy five million dollars of durham wheat imported from Canada in 2011. We're here to grow that even further.”

Ritz came under a lot of criticism this week for having the highest hospitality and travel costs of any cabinet ministers racking up a total of over $271,000 since March 2010:

“Canadian producers export between 50 and 85 percent of what they grow. While I would often like to be at home like you with my family over Thanksgiving and other holidays I'm out here leading trade missions because it's my privilege and responsibility to do that on behalf of Canadian Farmers.”

Ritz adds that producers depend on those international markets adding when the farm gate is strong, Canada’s economy is also strong.

The Minister is in Saudi Arabia today to advance market access issues relating to beef and cattle.