Shannon Stubbs is the new shadow minister for rural economic development and rural broadband
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Interim Conservative Party of Canada Leader Candice Bergen announced multiple changes to the party’s shadow cabinet Monday.
“We will not only hold the Liberals to account – we want to help provide solutions,” Bergen said in a statement. “This new team is ready to do just that.”
Of note for rural Canadians is the new shadow minister for rural economic development and rural broadband.
Bergen appointed Shannon Stubbs, the Alberta MP representing Lakeland, to the position. She takes over from Lianne Rood, the Ontario MP from Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
As a shadow minister, Stubbs will present the Conservative party’s views opposite Gudie Hutchings, the Liberal minister.
In her December 2021 mandate letter, Prime Minister Trudeau tasked Hutchings with pursuing and advancing “initiatives that recognize the unique realities and challenges faced by rural communities, including measures to support economic recovery, growth and resilience.”
Stubbs has been a shadow minister before.
In 2015, Interim Leader Rona Ambrose appointed her as the deputy critic for natural resources.
And in 2020, Erin O’Toole re-assigned Stubbs to be the shadow minister for public safety and emergency preparedness.
The rest of the Conservative shadow cabinet changes are as follows:
- Hon. Ed Fast (Abbotsford) – Shadow Minister for Finance
- Dan Albas (Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola) – Associate Shadow Minister of Finance and Housing Inflation
- Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent) – Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry
- Michael Barrett (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes) – Shadow Minister for Health
- Greg McLean (Calgary Centre) – Shadow Minister for Natural Resources
- Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton) – Associate Shadow Minister for International Trade and Supply Chains
- Ben Lobb (Huron - Bruce) - Shadow Minister for Digital Government and Special Advisor on Blockchain Technologies and Crypto Assets
- Kyle Seeback (Dufferin—Caledon) – Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change
- James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman) – Shadow Minister for Ethics
- Joel Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier) – Shadow Minister for Official Languages
The NDP shadow minister of rural economic development is Rachel Blainey, the B.C. MP from North Island-Powell River.