Motz has priorities despite being left off shadow cabinet

By COLLIN GALLANT on November 11, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Medicine Hat’s member of parliament says he is focused on the needs of the riding but will help his party on several critical files despite being left out of shadow cabinet appointments this week.

Glen Motz, the Conservative MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, and others in his party have been highly critical of certain appointments by the Liberal government.

This week, he told a business luncheon in Medicine Hat those selections give licence to petroleum producers and the City of Medicine Hat to pursue federal grants to help meet climate objectives and for the city to advance its plan to draw investment in hydrogen fuel production.

“I’m prepared to serve in any capacity,” Motz told the News this week, and says he’ll concentrate on party priorities of tackling inflation and addressing crime, international trade disputes that hurt agricultural producers, but also key on infrastructure projects for the region.

Motz served as the party’s deputy shadow minister of public safety during his first term in Ottawa, concentrating on gun laws and border security. That partial term ended in 2019.

New natural resources critic Michelle Rempel appeared to agree that the traditional energy sector should be supported in efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

“We need bold, new ideas to address the challenges related to climate and natural resource development; not tired, polarized, political theatre,” said the Calgary-area MP in a statement.

Other Albertans feature prominently in the shadow cabinet, including John Barlow, who represents Foothills riding west of Lethbridge, as agriculture critic.

Other Alberta-based MPs with shadow portfolios are Mike Lake (Addictions and Mental health), Laila Goodrich (Families), Garnett Genius (International Development) and Stephanie Kusie (Employment), while B.C. MP Dan Albas will focus on the environment portfolio.

A deputy critics list released Wednesday includes Bow River MP Martin Shields (Indigenous Affairs) and Battle River Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek as one of two Conservatives on file of Rural Economic development and Broadband strategy.

Only one Albertan sits in the government cabinet, Edmonton-area MP Randy Boissonault, who is both Minister of Tourism and deputy finance minister.

The Conservative critic for Prairie Economic Development is Warren Steinley. That portfolio, previously Western Diversification, was split into two last year to create new Pacific (B.C.) and Prairie offices.

The minister in charge of the latter department is Daniel Vandal, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg, who also handles northern development.

The Natural Resources minister is Johnathon Wilkinson, who was raised in Saskatchewan, but represents a Vancouver riding.