Alberta’s new minister of environment says he plans to work with stakeholder groups in the West County to ensure the area remains both sustainable and accessible.
Jason Nixon, 38, is the MLA for Rimbey-Rocky-Mountain House-Sundre. He was appointed to cabinet on April 30.
The environment and parks ministry deals with such things as environmental approvals, fish and wildlife, lands and parks.
The NDP’s Bighorn Country Proposal – which would have created a number of new provincial parks, including the Ya Ha Tinda Provincial Park west of Sundre – is now scrapped, he said.
“We were clear before the election that we would not be proceeding with the NDP’s Bighorn plan,” said Nixon. “It was rejected by all the communities in the area and it is not the direction that we will be heading.
“We will be moving forward with the North Saskatchewan regional planning process and getting back to working hand in hand with communities and stakeholders that are involved in the area.
“We want to continue the work they’ve done in protecting that area and continue to help provide them with the resources they need to do the work they are doing.”
Asked if the government is planning to make additional resources available to those stakeholder groups, he said, “Our focus will be working with the stakeholders that are already involved, and with the municipalities and the organizations that are out there (in the West Country along the Eastern Slopes). We’ve been clear that we need to provide some more resources for enforcement and those types of things.”
Nixon said his focus moving forward will be to, “protect areas like where we live (in the riding) for future generations while still using them for economic and recreational benefits now. That’s the direction we will be headed. There are lots of issues in the environmental file.”
Nixon said he was informed by Jason Kenney that he would be named environment and parks minister a couple of days before the swearing-in ceremony in Edmonton.
Nixon is a Sundre-area resident and was born in Calgary. He holds a bachelor of commerce (accounting major) degree, and a post-secondary diploma in business administration.
He issued the following statement following the swearing-in ceremony on April 30:
“Serving as the Minister of Environment and Parks as well as Government House Leader is a tremendous honour. I am incredibly grateful to Premier Kenney for the opportunity to serve Albertans under his leadership. Today’s swearing in ceremony with Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour Lois Mitchell, was an unforgettable experience.
"I commit to always putting Albertans first in the decision-making process. Alberta has a proud history of environmental stewardship, and the United Conservative Caucus recognizes that conservation, economic activity, and recreation are all important functions that can and should support each other.”
MLA COOPER UP FOR SPEAKER
Meanwhile, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper says having three senior cabinet ministers from Central Alberta will be beneficial to residents in the region.
The new provincial cabinet includes Education Minister Adriana La Grange (Red Deer-North), Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake), and Environment Minister Nixon.
“Obviously I’m super excited for Central Alberta,” Cooper said. “It’s great to have the ministers of environment, education and agriculture all from our area.
“That speaks well to the strength of the region and I’m very excited for the great partnerships I hope we are able to develop.”
Cooper says he is looking forward to the opening of the new session on May 21 when his name will be put forward as possible Speaker of the legislative assembly.
“I am hoping to win that vote,” he said. “Should it happen then we would obviously have the Speaker and three senior cabinet ministers from Central Alberta. I think that would be a really big win for our region.”
The Speaker oversees the Legislative Assembly Office, and is elected in a secret vote by all MLAs.
The Speaker’s role is to ensure orderly debate in the legislature and to ensure that MLAs are acting in accordance with legislative rules.
The Speaker can vote to break ties, but does not otherwise usually vote.
“They play a central role in our democracy,” he said. “And I think it’s an important piece of our puzzle. I hope to be able to serve the assembly in that capacity, and in turn, serve the constituents in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.”
The Speaker does not ask questions in the legislature.
“Obviously I would work closely with government members and the Opposition to ensure the interests of the constituents of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.”
Jason Nixon echoed Cooper’s comments, saying having three cabinet ministers in Central Alberta should be a benefit to the region.
