Shields sends out holiday greetings to end 2018

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

This year, the federal Bow River riding has felt the impact of economic strain, rural crime, unpredictable weather, constructive partnerships and controversial issues that Member of Parliament Martin Shields is eager to tackle in the new year.
Looking back, Shields emphasized the burdens the agriculture and resource sectors dealt with in 2018. The challenge of a lot of water and light snow in the spring was aided with good heat in the summer that helped crops mature to then be dumped on with snow in September. However, fall returned in October, resulting in a majority of crops to be harvested. According to Shields, grain prices, canola prices and beef prices held steady, but the riding faced challenges with trade when dealing with markets of other countries. Shields also said the resource sector suffered with oil and gas by not being able to get product to the international markets.
“Oil production price a barrel went up and natural gas prices were really low and so the resource sector in this riding has really been hurt by a lack of access in price of commodity to get it to market,” he said.
“It’s been a real challenge on those two huge economic factors: one, the variability of weather which has always been a challenge in agriculture, but yet it pretty well got done when the weather turned around right at the end; and two, the resource sector has been really hard this year and it’s getting worse.”
The MP also noticed hardships for smaller businesses trying to survive where there’s less productivity. He also spent much of the year focusing on rural crime. While he described it as a significant issue, he noticed some positive changes with rural crime being acknowledged on a provincial level.
“Has it been resolved? No, there’s still some significant issues in rural crime, but at least we believe that there’s a lot of people coming forward to talk about it and a lot of coverage of that issue and it got some traction because of it,” Shields said.
Despite challenges facing his riding, Shields also praised two partnerships in Strathmore that have come to fruition. He showed enthusiasm about the creation of the George Freeman School and the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre as well as the Marigold Library System and Western Irrigation District headquarters joint venture that’s moving forward with its plans for a building in 2020.
When looking towards 2019, Shields addressed two issues his constituents continue to bring to his attention: the carbon tax and the creation of pipelines – issues Shields vowed will be addressed.
As 2018 comes to a close, Shields wants his constituents to enjoy the holidays and their communities.
“I actually get to meet one-on-one or in small groups with a lot of different people in a lot of different communities, and so what I see is a tremendous Alberta-type attitude; we just want to work and take care of our families,” Shields said.
“We live in a great part of the world and country and we want to make it work. A tremendous number of people are volunteering in their communities and doing good things in their communities, and I have the honour and privilege of seeing that in up to 60 communities in the riding. That, I think, is something I really am thankful I have the opportunity to do.”