Though shovels may finally be in the ground for pipeline construction, the fact remains the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project is going into 2020 without a single inch of in-service pipeline - despite the fact it was supposed to be completed in December of 2019, says Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs.
“(The Liberal government’s) recent announcements are no different than their (other) ‘shovels in the ground’ announcement in July of 2018,” Stubbs said. “They face fresh court challenges that continue to threaten the project.”
Stubbs was re-elected as MP for the Lakeland Riding during the October federal election.
In 2020, constituents can expect her to continue to demand the Liberals and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take concrete action to change direction, listen to the concerns of Western Canadians, and work to unite the country.
In 2019, Stubbs says she advocated for the people of Lakeland on the issues they brought to her. Issues include: the agriculture crisis, rural crime, and economic struggles felt by many people in northeastern Alberta, including seniors and those in rural and remote communities, according to Stubbs.
According to Stubbs, she also led the fight for the official opposition on a number of issues that are key to Canada’s economy, including the Trans Mountain expansion. Stubbs says she was also able to secure two emergency meetings and three emergency debates on the project, while also outlining options for the completion of the project.
Though Stubbs was re-elected, the leader of her Conservative party failed to win the election. Following the loss his party faced in the October election, Andrew Scheer has since announced he is stepping down as party leader.
Of his announcement and how it could change her campaign promises, Stubbs says the government has to focus on doing their jobs as members of parliament and as the official opposition.
“Andrew Scheer remains our leader until a new leader is chosen, and he is laser-focused, as are all MPs, and there is a lot of interested and excited candidates considering the leadership,” Stubbs said. “And that speaks well for our party and our movement.”
Following her election win, Stubbs collected another win after being appointed as the Shadow Minister of Natural Resources in November.
“I was a strong advocate and driving force behind advocacy in regards to opposition of Bill C-48 and C-69,” Stubbs says of her other work in 2019. “This advocacy led to pressure within the senate and the senate purposed 200 amendments to the bill which the Liberals ultimately rejected.”
In March, the country’s canola supplies were shunned by China amid a trade dispute, leaving Canadian growers to deal with falling demand, rising inventories and lower prices.
In regards to the County of St. Paul declaring an agricultural disaster, due to poor harvest weather, Stubbs says she has had ongoing meetings with members of the agriculture sector and will continue to advocate for them.
“They are the backbone of our communities,” Stubbs said.
