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Parliament resumes Nov. 22

Energy, agriculture top of mind for Motz

Nov 12, 2021 | 2:10 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – When parliament resumes sitting later this month, Medicine Hat’s representative in Ottawa says the agriculture and energy sectors will be two of his priorities.

On energy, Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz sees huge opportunities locally.

“Carbon capture, carbon utilization, carbon storage and hydrogen production which could be the fuel of the fuel of the future,” Motz said earlier this week. “Alberta’s positioned to say let’s make Alberta the global leader in hydrogen, global hydrogen production. Like, why not? And Medicine Hat could be part of that.”

But Motz says he’s worried some industrial companies may not survive the rising cost of the federal government’s carbon tax

Motz says there are pressures being put on the ag sector as well and he will advocate for farmers and ranchers.

“Whether it be transportation needs, whether it be markets, whether it be carbon tax on farm fuels like propane and natural gas that need to be exempted that was lost in the last Parliament when the house rose we need to revise that,” he says. “To the issues of making sure that food sustainability and agri-food and agri-stability and food stability is available to our farm producers.”

He adds there are “openly hostile cabinet ministers to our western way of life, and says a potential coalition government between the NDP and the Liberals would create further challenges and economic issues.

Motz says he’s heard from many sources that people’s patience is frayed and people are frustrated.

“There’s ideologies that seem to be more important than the Canadian public and what’s best for Canada.”

Other issues Motz will keep and eye on are inflation, supports for mental health and addictions issues and getting people back to work as the economy rebounds from COVID-19.

Parliament returns on Nov. 22.