Dave Epp grows vegetables and cash crops in Ontario
Another member of Canada’s ag community is represented in Pierre Poilevre’s new Conservative shadow cabinet.
Dave Epp, the MP for Chatham-Kent in Ontario and a vegetable and cash crop producer, is the party’s new shadow minister for rural development, the party announced on June 30.
The new shadow cabinet, dubbed Poilievere’s “Affordability Team,” is committed to lowering prices, reducing crime, and uniting Canada.
This includes in rural communities.
“Rural Canada is the backbone of our country, whose communities feed the nation, powers our economy, stewards our natural resources, and reflects the values of hard work, resilience, and innovation that define Canada,” Epp said in a statement on X.
He replaces Richard Bragdon in this role, who became the critic for Atlantic Economic Development.
As shadow minister Epp will advocate for rural Canadians on a wide range of issues.
These include infrastructure, agriculture and agri-food, interprovincial trade, rural crime, rail and shipping, and labour.
Epp’s counterpart in the Liberal government is Buckley Belanger, the MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River in Saskatchewan.
Lianne Rood also has a new role in the Conservative shadow cabinet.
The MP for Middlesex-London and vegetable farmer is the party’s new question period coordinator.
Her responsibilities include managing the party’s strategy during question period.
Rood took this role over from Eric Duncan, the MP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, as he became the foreign affairs critic.
John Barlow and Jacques Gourde will remain in their roles as shadow and associate shadow ministers for agriculture, respectively.
Other shadow cabinet roles include:
- Pat Kelly as shadow minister for Prairie Economic Development
- Dan Mazier, former president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, as the shadow minister for government transformation, public works and procurement
- Raquel Dancho as shadow minister for health
- Stephanie Kusie as trade critic