He officially takes over for Stefanie Beck on June 3
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
There’s a change in the senior ranks of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Lawrence Hanson, the current associate deputy minister of environment and climate change, will become the new deputy minister of agriculture and agri-food effective June 3, the prime minister’s office announced on May 24.
As deputy minister, Hanson, a public servant, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department.
Lawrence Hanson
Farmers are unsure about how Hanson’s appointment will affect them.
“Does this matter? A Deputy Minister under Steven Guilbeault's Environment Ministry is taking over as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada,” Rob Somerville, an Alberta farmer, said on X. “I guess you would need to know more about Lawrence Hanson. IMO, I think it probably matters.”
Hanson’s professional experience with federal departments dates to at least 2002, an online bio says.
This includes as the associate deputy minister of fisheries and oceans from 2021 to 2022, and as an associate minister within Transport Canada from 2017 to 2021.
Hanson will replace Stefanie Beck, who on June 3 will become the new deputy minister of national defence. She served as associate deputy minister in this department until her appointment to AAFC in February 2023.
General Wayne Eyre, chief of the defence staff, welcomed Beck back into the fold and highlighted her experience at AAFC.
“Her recent tenure as DM of Agriculture & Agri-Food combines with her former role as ADM of DND, will ensure a thoughtful & strategic approach to the challenges ahead,” he said in an X thread. “She will be an effective partner alongside the Chief of the Defence Staff in steering the institution forward.”