Year in review with Martin Shields

By Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean Times Contributor

After a second successful election for the MP of Bow River, Martin Shields has been keeping an eye on Strathmore and Wheatland County for a few years now. While there are still some issues being faced in the area, there’s also some good news.
“We had a bit of a mixed outcome for the agricultural sector, whereas the beef sector was a little more stable. Where we had some real challenges were hailstorms, and in the grasslands early snow and frost,” Shields said.
Trade, especially for growers, had difficulties especially around exports to China and India. Between 2014 and 2018, exports of Alberta canola more than doubled – from $1.3 billion to $2.6 billion. Canadian producers, though, have been caught in the crosshairs of political disputes between China and the U.S., and Canada’s role between them.
“China also has an issue with pork and swine fever, and we have so much pork available here so that is a crucial opportunity for us as well,” he said.
India still has tariffs on Canadian pulses but in the first nine months of 2019 the country imported just over a half million tonnes of Canadian lentils and almost as much in yellow peas. Shields said it’s an area of major importance for producers in Wheatland County and he is hopeful there is some movement on reducing those barriers.
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion received the go-ahead in December and Shields is hopeful that its construction is a sign of things to come for all constituencies in the province. “It’s a great advantage to Albertans if we can get our product to tidewater,” he said.
One of the issues Shields had identified prior to the October election was keeping abreast of the reports and potential plans to deal with invasive species in the shared water systems between Alberta and the United States.
“I have met with the Western Irrigation District and I will be attending the conference at the end of February. The WID is concerned about the costs associated with monitoring, of course. I’ve talked with local UCP MLAs about the importance of our irrigation system and taking a strong stance on access at border points,” he said.
Cooperation will be required between multiple jurisdictions on monitoring, testing and, potentially, removal. Prevention is much less expensive but still has a cost requirement that would be borne by each jurisdiction. He said the report did not have a cost estimate attached.
Shields also noted that in 2020 the Conservative Party of Canada will be getting a new leader. The nomination race officially opened on Monday and all candidate nominees must meet requirements set by the party by Feb. 27. The new leader will be chosen on June 27.