Former Wildrose MLA and colleague of premier named deputy minister of agriculture

By COLLIN GALLANT on October 26, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

A former Wildrose MLA in the region and current head of the Eastern Irrigation District has been appointed as the top administrator of the agriculture ministry, as new premier and local election candidate Danielle Smith pumps up the potential of the water delivery sector.

Jason Hale told the News he resigned as EID chair on Tuesday morning, the day after the announcement he would join the civil service, and that the EID board would name a new chair at its regular board meeting on Tuesday.

He becomes the deputy minister (an administrative, not elected position) of the rebranded “Agriculture and Irrigation” department with a mandate to develop new water systems.

The hiring is an usual move but Smith has vowed to shake up top-level administrators in the provincial government.

Smith told the News on Tuesday the changes put irrigation at the forefront of the work of the ag ministry and it will provide benefits beyond the farmyard.

“The signal (of the appointment) is that I want somebody who has expertise in developing irrigation infrastructure that’s multi-use, responsible development,” she said.

“Everywhere I go, large cities, mid-sized cities or rural, we’ve got a multitude of problems that irrigation can solve. If we can build new reservoirs, it helps with recreational opportunities, with flood mitigation, new hydro-electric power, and food production.”

“In southern Alberta, where it’s dry, we’ve had tremendous success with irrigation. We need someone focused on developing that.”

Hale, 53, a Bassano native, was elected as the Wildrose Party MLA for Brooks-Strathmore riding in 2012, but joined a group floor crossing to the Progressive Conservative party led by then Wildrose leader Smith in late 2014.

He did not run in the 2015 election, but joined the EID in 2017 as a district rep, and was also until this week a vice-chair with the Alberta Beef Producers.

“It’s a great opportunity to continue the great work that’s being done by the EID,” he said.

“We’ve made great strides that have allowed for expansion. There is huge potential for irrigation

The Eastern Irrigation district is moving ahead on new Snake Lake Reservoir near Bassano thanks to an $800-million financing agreement reached in late 2020 between irrigation districts, the province and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

The same deal provides funding for separate reservoir projects for the St. Mary’s and Taber irrigation districts, which amalgamated this summer, and feasibility work on creating a new works and district centred at Acadia Valley.

Smith drew fire after the leadership vote was musing that the Springbank Dam – a huge flood-control proposal now being designed northwest of Calgary – might be reopened after nine years of effort since the 2013 floods.

The opposition NDP have called for an explanation, asking Smith ensure the project proceeds.

Smith told the News on Tuesday that rather than reopening the Springbank issue, she is more focused on additional reservoirs around Calgary and elsewhere, including the long-discussed, but long-shelved Meridian Dam, near Medicine Hat.

“Springbank is the solution on the Elbow River, but we need a solution on the Bow,” she said.

Agriculture Minister Nate Horner remained in his post when Smith named her new cabinet last week, but other ministries overlap on certain issues.

Former ag minister Devin Dreeshen was named minister of transportation, which oversees some water issues, with the added portfolio of “Economic Corridors” attached. MLA Shane Getson in place as a parliamentary secretary on the file, which could include the growing cluster of agri-industrial development between the Hat and Lethbridge along Highway 3.

MLA Glenn van Dijken was named parliamentary secretary focusing on agrifood processing.