Strathmore Stampede almost here

By Leela Sharon Aheer Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Hello Strathmore! I hope you’ve been taking advantage of the Stick Around Downtown Strathmore In July promotion showcasing the many great local businesses in downtown Strathmore. From clothes to shoes to tattoos and great food, there’s something for everyone and you could win some fabulous prizes.
The Strathmore Stampede is rapidly approaching so get those boots polished and get ready to enjoy some fantastic rodeo entertainment and special events like Running with the Rams and the RCMP Musical Ride. I am loading up with candy for the parade and I am co-hosting a post-parade barbecue with MP Martin Shields at Kinsmen Park starting at 11:30 a.m. I hope to see you there.
Don’t forget to come downtown for “Stampede Jammin,” three days of open mic at three downtown venues during the Stampede starting Aug. 3. Come on down and show everyone what you’ve got.
I was honoured to be asked to serve as parade marshall this past weekend at Langdon Days. Mother Nature blessed us with a stop to the rain, and as always, the whole town showed up. We buy more candy every year and we still run out! Thanks to the Hopp family from Legacy Ranch for the wagon and the beautiful horses. Mike and Linda Hopp are continuing a family tradition as teamsters. Grandfather Art Hopp, 89 years young, still drives his own team. Look for the Hopps and many other teams at Pioneer Acres, a short drive away in Irricana, for Pioneer Acres’ 50th Anniversary Aug. 9-11. This year’s theme is Horses and Horse Drawn Equipment. There will be dozens of teams there, “Where History Comes Alive,” celebrating Alberta’s rich equine heritage.
Speaking of horses, it was great to see many of you at the Dalroy Gymkhana this past Sunday.
When we read about opposition to pipelines, we should always ask ourselves: “Who benefits?” By forcing Alberta to sell at a discount to the U.S., we are benefitting U.S. energy interests at our expense. But there is another side to this story. Numerous studies have shown that pipelines are the safest and, equally importantly, least expensive means of getting our oil and gas to where it is needed. Remember, high energy costs disproportionately impact those with lower incomes such as seniors. Well-funded environmental activists along with the politicians that pander to them are really mounting an attack on the most vulnerable members of our society. Who funds these groups? In many cases it is U.S.-based foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation. Even in the U.S., people are starting to ask: “Who benefits from opposition to pipelines?”
I read an interesting article this week by Jesse Grady at Townhall.com. The article is called Billionaires Are Behind Efforts to Slow America’s Energy Infrastructure. What is most interesting is that activist groups are not only lobbying against new infrastructure but are against upgrading and fixing old infrastructure. Sound familiar? The group featured in the article is working to delay Line 3 which heavily impacts Canada. Our pipelines are built and are ready to go at Gretna, Man., but have been delayed on the American side.
Vivian Krause has been researching this issue for years, calling out the U.S.-funded Tar Sands Campaign, a direct assault on Alberta’s prosperity. We have seen them target Northern Gateway, Energy East and Keystone XL. This is a full-on attack of our natural resources, both oil and gas. They have also worked to influence our federal elections as detailed in a May 23, 2017 National Post article.
Our current Prime Minister was a direct beneficiary of these campaigns and it is interesting that experts have said the new rules surrounding election financing are riddled with loopholes which will allow foreign money to be used to try to subvert the upcoming federal election. Again, ask yourself: “Who benefits?”
Previous Alberta governments have not stood up to these groups, but I can guarantee you we will! It is imperative that we fight these groups with legal action and fight for our market access. As always, we love to hear from you!

(Leela Sharon Aheer is the MLA Elect for Chestermere-Strathmore, Minister of Status of Women and Minister of Culture and Multiculturalism)