Scheer has plum spot for McLeod in shadow cabinet

Aug 30, 2017 | 12:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — Newly-minted Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is visiting the Kamloops area today, and making news while he’s here.

Scheer will address a Kamloops Chamber of Commerce small business round table, speak with Chief Manny Jules about First Nations taxation and property, and hold a membership barbecue near Heffley Creek.

“This is not only sharing his vision and an opportunity for our riding to get to know him, but it’s a listening tour,” said Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod. “In British Columbia, we lost a number of seats so I think we also have to reflect on what happened in the last election, and how we need to be poised for success in 2019.”

The leader announced his shadow cabinet this morning, and it includes a prominent spot for McLeod.

She will remain critic for both new government portfolios dealing with Indigenous Affairs.

“It is very much an honour to continue in the Indigenous Affairs portfolio,” said McLeod. “It has been split in two, so I’ll have two ministers that I’m going to be focused on, both service delivery and the direction that they’re taking in terms of moving forward.”

“There has been some concern expressed that you’re going to be creating complication and unnecessary overlap in bureaucracy. We’re going to see how these portfolios play out, but in the meantime, it was felt that having one person responsible for the portfolio, watching what was going on, was going to be important.”

In addition to the two Indigenous Affairs portfolios, McLeod will serve as critic for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

McLeod says, now that a party leader has been chosen and the shadow cabinet set, the party is concentrating on its job as a united opposition to the Trudeau Liberal government.

“We’re going to be focused on both sharing our vision in terms of what we believe should be done differently and what we would do in 2019 if Canadians gave us the opportunity, but also the important job of holding the government to account for the decisions they’re making right now.”