Premier Smith expects RJ Sigurdson to work on multiple initiatives to promote the ag sector
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is providing her cabinet ministers with their mandate letters outlining her expectations of them during the next four years.
RJ Sigurdson, the MLA for Highwood and new minister of agriculture and irrigation, received his on July 7.
The first specific item Premier Smith outlined for Minister Sigurdson is “expanding the Feeder Assistance Loan Guarantee to $3 million to support Alberta producers as they feed our country and compete in the global economy,” the letter says.
The Alberta government announced that action on July 10.
In addition, the premier expects the ag minister to:
- Advocate on behalf of Alberta farmers and ranchers by promoting Alberta agriculture and pushing back against policies passed by other jurisdictions that hinder the sector,
- Promote the newly passed agrifood tax credit with a view to accelerating international and domestic business attraction and investment, and
- Work to reduce barriers to interprovincial trade of meat products.
In January of this year, for example, the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan, along with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, launched a pilot project to remove trade barriers in Lloydminster.
Premier Smith also expects Minister Sigurdson to:
- Continue working towards a customs pre-clearance process for the export of Alberta agricultural products,
- Complete ongoing irrigation modernization commitments and exploring options for additional investment in the optimization and expansion of irrigation and water storage infrastructure in the province,
- Explore ways to encourage increased nitrogen production in Alberta’s petrochemical sector to reduce costs and improve availability of fertilizer for Alberta farmers,
- Explore options to address opportunities identified in the Beef Competitiveness Study to improve Alberta beef-producer competitiveness,
- Explore options to support entry and succession in our primary agriculture sector, and
- Work with Jobs, Economy and Trade, assist in designing a ministry-specific job attraction strategy to raise the awareness of young Albertans (aged 16 to 24), and adults changing careers, of the skilled trades and professions available in each economic sector, including pathways for education, apprenticeship, and training.
Four other Alberta ministers have received their mandate letters: