Thursday November 28, 2019 ~ OTTAWA
Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Today it was announced that Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) has been given the critic roles for Agriculture, Rural Economic Development, and Deputy Critic for Justice.
The news was unveiled as part of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announcing the critic roles for his NDP Caucus in Ottawa today, November 28.
The NDP Caucus aims to”hold the Liberal minority government to account in the 43rd Parliament”, it was stated by the NDP today.
“This is very welcome news for me,” stated MacGregor, whose home base is in Duncan where he is deeply rooted in the agriculture issues of the Cowichan Valley area. “In the previous Parliament I occupied the roles of Agriculture Critic and Justice Critic, so I know both files very well,” he said today.
“I’ll be back working hard for our country’s farmers as I again take on the role of Agriculture, but this time I’m adding Rural Economic Development, both of which are a great fit for our riding,” says MacGregor. “I’m also incredibly pleased to be named as the Deputy Justice Critic and take on some of the pressing issues in this role”.
MacGregor’s time as the Justice Critic included shepherding the government’s cannabis and impaired-driving legislation through committee and gaining supports for Canadians called to serve jury duty. On the Agriculture file, MacGregor was a vocal advocate for supply-managed farmers, food security, and taking a holistic approach to our farming future with the adoption of carbon sequestration through agro-ecological farming practices and principles.
“Adding the role of Rural Economic Development will be an exciting new challenge and fits well with the riding I am privileged to represent,” MacGregor continued. While the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford electoral area includes the bustling Langford metropolis, much of the area is rural or even remote (including up to Port Renfrew).
“I look forward to taking on these responsibilities with fresh resolve when the House of Commons comes back on December 5th.”
Alistair MacGregor served as the NDP Critic for Justice and Human Rights between January and December of 2017, taking on the role as the NDP’s Agriculture and Agri-food Critic from January 2018 until Parliament dissolved at the time of the 43rd general election.
OTHER:
The full list of NDP MPs and their new critic roles is online at https://www.ndp.ca/team .
Commentary: It can be confidently argued that the NDP with 24 seats in the House of Commons will have more significant influence on the passage of Liberal government legislation than will the Bloc Quebecois with 32 or the Conservatives with 121.
Background: NDP strength now directed at Ottawa from BC (11 of 24 NDP MPs were elected in BC on October 21, 2019):
- Leader: Jagmeet Singh, MP (Burnaby South)
- South Vancouver Island: Randall Garrison, MP (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke)Alistair MacGregor; MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford); Laurel Collins, MP (Victoria)
- Central/North Vancouver Island: Rachel Blaney (North Island – Powell River); Gord Johns, MP (Courtenay-Alberni).
- BC Mainland: Taylor Bachrach, MP (Skeena – Bulkley Valley); Richard Cannings, MP (South Okanagan – West Kootenay); Don Davies, MP (Vancouver Kingsway); Peter Julian, MP (New Westminster – Burnaby); Jenny Kwan, MP (Vancouver East).
========== NOTES:
Commentary on NDP in 43rd Parliament, page 1 in the November 22, 2019 print-PDF edition of West Shore Voice News.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh addressed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board on November 27, 2019 in Ottawa.