Provencher MP Ted Falk has received his committee assignment for this session of Parliament.
After serving on the agriculture committee, Falk says he is back on the natural resources committee, where he served from 2017 to 2019.
Falk explains this standing committee has representation from all parties. The committee, chaired by the Liberals, has five Liberal members, four Conservative members, one Bloc Quebecois member and one NDP member.
"That committee looks at all issues related to natural resources in Canada," explains Falk. "Currently they are just finishing off a study on greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry."
Falk says it is very important to the Conservatives and Leader Pierre Poilievre to find a way to use Canada's natural resources and the energy we have in our country.
"It is the cleanest and most environmentally friendly energy in the world," he explains. "And we think we need to be able to use it responsibly and where there is an opportunity to export it, we should be doing that."
Having recently served on this committee, Falk says he is still very familiar with their work. For example, he says when the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project was in the approval process, it was talked about at his committee level.
Falk says with TransCanada PipeLines running through Provencher, in addition to the forestry and mining in our riding, the standing committee on natural resources is very relevant to him as MP.
According to Falk, this is a fairly intense committee with meetings held twice weekly. He notes they look at any bills that government puts forward or any private members bills having to do with natural resources. Those bills come through this committee for study, amending or to be sent back to the House for final approval.
Falk, who makes the transition from the agriculture committee, says he will stay abreast on agriculture issues in Parliament, realizing the importance to his constituency.
Meanwhile, Falk says he had a chance this week for a one-on-one with new Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to discuss the direction of the party. He notes right now the Conservatives are very focused on the pressures of inflation and holding government to account.
"And he just wanted to encourage me with the roles that I've had here in Parliament in working together with natural resources and also continuing to keep an eye on agriculture," notes Falk. "And so, I had a great meeting with Pierre."