Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen has earned a role in interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose’s shadow cabinet.
On Thursday, Nov. 19 Ambrose announced her shadow cabinet, which saw Viersen tasked as deputy critic of rural affairs to Lambton–Kent–Middlesex MP Bev Shipley.
Viersen is tasked to the file with Shipley, a veteran MP representing rural southern Ontario, someone he’s keen to learn from.
“He’s got the experience that I lack, but we should be able to work together … I look forward to working with him,” Viersen said.
“He’s a dairy farmer there and I’m married to a dairy farmer, so we’ll have that in common right off the get go.”
The 29-year-old Neerlandia native said he was surprised to get the nod, but is excited at the opportunity to serve in a role that’s important to him.
“I’m a rural guy and I’m proud of my rural roots,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being a voice for rural-northern Alberta, and bringing our rural values.”
He said the portfolio will cover an array of issues going beyond just farming and extending into forestry and production.
“It’s basically where everything starts,” Viersen said.
“The whole economy is driven off of production, essentially, so the vast part of production in Canada happens in rural settings.”
Viersen says he’s prepared to lobby the Liberal government in a number of different areas in order to keep production going and to keep rural communities viable.
“Infrastructure spending is going to be big and also access to foreign markets and ensuring our products can get to these markets is going to be critical,” Viersen said.
“If we maintain market access and maintain the ability to sell our products around the world, that will ensure that the money continues to flow back to rural Canada.
“When money flows back to rural Canada our communities will prosper.”
Viersen says he’s excited for his new role when Parliament resumes Dec. 3.
“It’s overwhelming, really. It’s a huge privilege to be the representative for Peace River-Westlock,” he said. “This is a real opportunity to represent Peace River-Westlock on the national stage.”
