Some farmers and agriculture industry representatives were invited to join Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney, on his outreach mission to Ottawa this week.
Alberta Barley Commission Chair and Barons area farmer, Dave Bishop, says they raised a number of concerns and topics of interest for the grain sector on their trip to Ottawa, including trade, Business Risk Management programs, carbon pricing, and transportation in regards to the recent CN Rail strike.
Bishop says they met with the Alberta Conservative Caucus on Monday, December 9, which included Foothills M.P. and Conservative Agriculture Critic, John Barlow, as well as his own M.P., Rachael Harder, representing the Lethbridge riding.
"They did ask some good questions of us also, but we were pretty well on the same page," Bishop said.
Following the meeting, Bishop says they attended a big reception.
"Last night was a meet and greet with the Premier and the [Alberta] Ministers he had, plus there were quite a few M.P.'s in the room,"he explained. "They said there was going to be about 600 in the room, and it was packed and it was crowded, so great networking opportunity."
Bishop says there was also people from Alberta's oil and gas, pork and cattle industries at the reception.
"He [Kenney] had a lot of people in Ottawa to show how united Alberta is, which I found very impressive."
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