Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier will play a prominent role in the Conservative Party of Canada’s shadow cabinet.
Mazier will serve as the shadow minister for Rural Economic Development and Connectivity after being appointed by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
“I guess the leader identified that I was a very good advocate for rural Canada and our riding in general,” Mazier said. “It is a true honour and it’s good to know that, just like I’ve always done, I’ll be advocating for rural Canada.”
Mazier’s mandate calls for him to hold the government accountable while proposing policy solutions to support rural Canadians.
Poilievre has also tasked Mazier with addressing the lack of internet and cellular connectivity in rural Canada, something Mazier has been spearheading since he was first elected in 2019. Earlier this year, the MP introduced Bill C-288, An Act to Amend the Telecommunications Act, which, if passed, would provide Canadians with more accurate and transparent information regarding the internet services Canadians pay for.
As such, Mazier is pleased Poilievre has “really emphasized connectivity.”
“Inflation is going to be a primary focus on all these files, like how do we get this inflation down. That’ll be the main focus on anything we touch,” Mazier said, adding there is a real crisis that is being created by a number of government policies.
That is where a large part of his focus will be.
“The carbon tax and just how that is impacting our lives. Not only in Canada, but in rural Canada there is a big, way bigger disparity than this government knows about,” Mazier said. “Justin Trudeau’s inflation crisis is hurting rural Canadians disproportionally. Whether that be his carbon tax or his planned tax hikes on gas, groceries and home heating, I will be relentlessly opposing any policies that increase the cost of living to rural Canadians.”
Mazier is looking forward to learning his new role and to meeting with a wide cross section of rural Canadians to better understand their priorities and concerns
“Beyond learning the process, especially being a relatively new MP, this is the first time I’ve been appointed to any type of a position like this, so on that side of it, there will be some learning,” Mazier said, adding he is awaiting further marching orders in terms of committee assignments.
“They’re very well organized and things will come out here and we’ll get a clear direction of where we’re headed. It’s just learning all this and it’s shifting gears a little bit more in our office.”
