Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs has been named as the Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Natural Resources. "I'm grateful to be appointed as Shadow Minister of Natural Resources by our new leader Andrew Sheer," Stubbs told the Nouvelle.
Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs has been named as the Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Natural Resources.
"I'm grateful to be appointed as Shadow Minister of Natural Resources by our new leader Andrew Sheer," Stubbs told the Nouvelle. "I am looking forward to taking the lead position on this file and continuing to advocate and fight for the importance of energy and natural resource development to the economy overall, and to every community in Canada."
Last Wednesday (Aug. 30), Sheer announced the 36 members of his shadow cabinet. Prior to the appointment, Stubbs served as the Conservative's deputy critic for natural resources. As she moves up the ranks on the file, the Lakeland representative will be applying the knowledge she's gained on the topic already as she participates directly with the team at the shadow cabinet table, responds to government policy and fiscal decisions, and takes the lead in question period.
"I take this position very seriously and personally because of how important natural resource development, particularly oil and gas related, is to the people that I represent. Also, the importance overall of mining, forestry, and nuclear to people right across Canada."
Stubbs added, "I've had some heated exchanges already with the minister and the parliamentary secretary. I know sometimes they wonder why I get hot under the collar with these issues, but it's because they directly impact the people, families, and businesses I represent. They have a disproportionate impact on Alberta."
Carefully watching all federal decisions when it comes to natural resources, Stubbs believes pipelines and policies are going to stay front and centre on the agenda.
Referencing the first terminal for the Trans Mountain pipeline twinning in BC, as well as the Energy East pipeline, while they may be approved and underway, the newly-appointed shadow minister noted there's still cause for concern. As she keeps an eye on oil and gas development in the United States, Stubbs explained that the lengthy process and amount of red tape could see Canada fall behind.
"The United States is rapidly transitioning from being Canada's No. 1 consumer, to also becoming Canada's No. 1 competitor in oil and gas. They've removed their 40-year ban on crude exports, they're ramping up their accessible and affordable shale oil development, and they're move aggressively to reduce red tape on producers and investors. That is a major issue for Canadian competitiveness."
Stubbs stated the country's competitiveness has continued to slide over the past two years, which she attributes to growing uncertainty and unpredictability surrounding the federal Liberal's regulatory reviews.
"The dollar amount lost in oil and gas investment in the past two years is equivalent to the loss of 75 per cent of the auto manufacturing industry in Ontario and 100 per cent of the aerospace industry in Quebec," explained Stubbs. "It's my view that if that happened in Ontario or Quebec in those two industries, the federal government would regard that as a national crisis and do everything they can to make sure the investment environment is favourable, red tape is streamlined, and regulations are consistent."
Living in the Lakeland for most of her life, and with a background in working on policy and regulatory issues around the oil and gas industry, Stubbs assured she's "well positioned and prepared" for the job ahead of her as the new Shadow Minister of Natural Resources.
