Damien C. Kurek, Member of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot, has been appointed as the Deputy Shadow Minister of Rural Economic Development and Rural Broadband Strategy in Canada’s Official Opposition.
“Coming from rural Alberta, I understand first-hand the challenges we are facing,” Kurek said in response to the appointment. “Many of them relate directly to the economy. If we invest in rural Canada, we all benefit.”
It really encapsulates a lot of the work I have been doing locally over the last couple of years. And I had the opportunity under the first few months of Andrew Scheer’s leadership to have the same role.”
He said the issue of dependable broadband came to light during this pandemic.
“Over the course of COVID it has been highlighted the need of how a good internet connection is the difference between how business in rural Canada can survive. It’s whether or not a farm kid or someone in a small town can continue to go to school,” said Kurek.
He said many rural communities, small businesses, organizations, and families are being held back from achieving their full potential. This unrealized potential includes legacy industries, such as the resource and agricultural sectors, and the ability to see breakthroughs in new and innovative sectors that will transform our nation and grow the economy. Rural Canada can and should be part of the solution to the challenges facing Canada.
Kurek said this is a great fit as he is passionate about advocating for rural concerns as he takes on this role.
“When it comes to the spectrum of what rural economic development is, I think for so long, rural Canada has been the place where people are from as they transition and move to larger centres for opportunity, whether that be communities like Drumheller, all the way down to the hamlet across the constituency and farms. People miss out on the tremendous opportunity people have in rural Canada to help make sure there is both support and policies that encourage growth in our legacy industries like agriculture and energy, but also a myriad of other opportunities that do exist across the spectrum.”
He adds he is looking forward to working with the Shadow Minister of Rural Economic Development and Rural Broadband Strategy, MP Lianne Rood.
Parliament is set to resume on November 22.