Dauphin – Swan River – Neepawa MP Dan Mazier has been named Deputy Shadow Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Mazier is humbled with the new role.

“I have experience through Keystone Ag Producers and different environmental organizations. But to be named deputy shadow minister is a very humbling experience.”

Opposition parties typically name members to key portfolios to hold the corresponding government ministers to account and to help form better policy.

Mazier will be learning on the fly as a deputy shadow minister.

“So probably, if the shadow minister can’t talk, on the environmental issues and climate change issues, of the committee or the party, I’ll probably be the second in command that would be talking about it. I would imagine, again this is not knowing what to expect.”

To go along with being the deputy shadow minister of environment and climate change, Mazier will hold a seat on the Standing Committee that goes along with the department.

“So it’s responsible, not only for climate change issues like the carbon tax, which is a huge issue for Canada, but it also looks after the parks. So, Riding Mountain National Park being in the riding, I think it’ll be a good, positive move as far as me being at the table, being made aware of what’s actually some of the rules and regulations are that are being proposed for parks. Of course, I’ll always have my eye out for what’s going to happen with our Riding Mountain National Park.”

Mazier adds that a lot of good things will happen because he’ll be right with the people that can make the difference and can voice the concerns of the constituents right there instead of needing to go to other MP’s and departments.