Premier Smith provides mandate letters to ministers

Nov 16, 2022

One of Minister Horner’s responsibilities is to encourage increased nitrogen production

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The members of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet know what she expects of them after receiving their individual ministerial mandate letters.

Nate Horner, the minister of agriculture and irrigation, is expected to work with multiple other cabinet ministers to achieve specific goals.

Working with the minister of finance, for example, Minister Horner is to “develop and implement a Competitive Agri-Food Value-Added Processing and Manufacturing program that will make Alberta more competitive with competing jurisdictions,” his Nov. 10 mandate letter says.

Working with the minister of trade to reduce interprovincial trade berries and encouraging increased nitrogen production in the petrochemical sector are also among his responsibilities.

Premier Smith also expects Minister Horner to push back against federal programs that affect Alberta’s ability to produce or export food.

Examples of these kinds of policies from Ottawa include the carbon tax, pest control regulations and fertilizer reductions.

In addition, Minister Horner is to “complete a Made in Alberta Labelling Program to enhance Alberta products in the marketplace,” his mandate letter outlines.

Devin Dreeshen, the former ag minister and new minister of transportation of economic corridors, helped bring local food labels to Alberta goods in 2021.

In addition to the individual ministerial responsibilities, the mandate letters also outline Premier Smith’s vision for greater Alberta.

She expects the members of her cabinet to do four things:

Keep inflation and affordability at top of mind,
Have a “laser focus” on job creation and strengthening the economy,
Ensure all areas of the province receive proper ambulance services, and
Remain united “in the face of a federal government that no longer treats its partners in Confederation as equals.”

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm