McKnight replaces Epp in federal cabinet shuffle

A former Saskatchewan farmer, once described by his colleagues as a “quick learner” and “consummate politician,” became Canada’s minister of Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) during a recent federal cabinet shuffle.

William McKnight, 52, made the move from the agriculture portfolio to EMR in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s pre-election shuffle in which five ministers retired and nine were reassigned.

Former EMR minister Jake Epp, who held the post for four years, has retired after indicating that he would not be running in the next election. He is 53. McKnight and Epp have more in common than their age. Both hail from the Prairies and both have farming roots. At one stage in their political careers, both held the northern development portfolio.

McKnight was born in Elrose, Sask., in 1940 and later became a businessman and wheat farmer. He entered politics in 1974 as president of the Progressive Conservative Party in Saskatchewan and has held various ministerial posts within the party, including labour (1983), Indian affairs and northern development (1984), western economic diversification (1986), national defence (1987) and, most recently, agriculture. He is married and has two children. Although mining industry representatives are unfamiliar with McKnight, they say his experience dealing with northern development issues should help him adjust to the mines portfolio. With the mining industry in the midst of a wrenching structural change, this will prove to be a challenging task. “He should understand the resource industry after his experience with Indian affairs and northern development,” remarked Mining Association of Canada President George Miller, who says he hopes to meet with McKnight shortly. McKnight is currently facing a major decision about whether the federal government should sink more money into the Hibernia oil project off Newfoundland.

Save Our North Chairman Steve Parry, who called for Epp’s resignation in the pages of this newspaper just a few months ago, said he is excited by the change.

“McKnight has a great opportunity to do something positive,” he said. “Mr. Epp did the right thing in resigning — I don’t think his heart was in the job.”