After 17 years and five elections, Lana Popham announced on September 21 that she will not seek re-election as MLA for the British Columbia riding of Saanich South. She has been BC’s B.C.’s longest-serving Minister of Agriculture.

First elected in 2009, Popham served eight years in opposition, before she was appointed Minister of Agriculture in 2017, becoming B.C.’s first woman to hold the portfolio and, ultimately, the longest serving. She also served two years as Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. 

“Some of my most meaningful and wonderful conversations happened riding alongside a farmer in a truck, with a wet farm dog on my lap,” she said. 

As agriculture minister, Popham strengthened farmland protections through legislative changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve. She also led the development of Feed BC, a framework that helps hospitals, post-secondary institutions and other public organizations buy more B.C.-grown and processed food and beverages, and she brought back the Buy BC brand. Today, more than 1,900 B.C. businesses use Buy BC across nearly 15,000 food and beverage products, and the program is being expanded beyond agriculture at a time of trade uncertainty and economic pressure. 

In Québec, the current ag minister is Donald Martel representing the riding of Nicolet-Bécancour for the Coalition Avenir Québec. He’s been in the post just one year. Watch for the October 5 election results. Depending on the outcome, it takes about two weeks before a new cabinet is announced. 

The provinces of Québec and British Columbia are important for their farmgate contributions to Canadian horticulture. 

Source: Lana Popham LinkedIn September 21, 2026 posting