Cabinet shuffle nets special responsibilities for Kings North MLA

BY BRENT FOX

bfox@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

A Kings County MLA has received an especially important responsibility in Premier Rodney MacDonald’s Wednesday, Jan. 7 cabinet shift.

Kings North MLA Mark Parent remains Labour Minister and becomes Agriculture Minister, a sector that’s very important to the Annapolis Valley economy and social network.

Parent said he has been involved with agriculture as an MLA, but will now be working as the minister. “There is a lot to learn. It’s different from being the MLA,” he said.

He added that Kings County and Valley agriculture sectors face exciting but challenging times. “Agriculture is the backbone for a lot of communities, and not only in the Annapolis Valley.”

One of the priorities, he said, “is to keep up the pressure to keep supply management in place.” As well, there are new opportunities in the province for vineyards, but ways have to be cleared so the product is available for sale.

The beef sector, he said, faces issues with the United States demands for labeling country of origin for imports.

There is progress in promoting the Halifax Farmers’ Market, which many Kings County producers use to move their products.

‘Buy local’ now taking wing

“Buy local is something that is taking off now,” Parent said. “I want to make sure we push it as far as we can because ‘buy local’ is now taking wing.”

In the Labour portfolio, Parent noted the federal government is involved in economic stimulus development and skills development, and the provincial level will be working with the program.

Parent said these skills would help to sustain new opportunities and the aim is to match training with those opportunities.

As well, he noted, this meshes well with his Agriculture portfolio and the sector’s move to increase value added, and with the Environment portfolio, which he relinquished in the cabinet shuffle.

Kings South MLA David Morse is Environment Minister and Minister Responsible for Emergency Management and Minister Responsible for Military Relations. His sons serve in the military, one being an Afghanistan veteran.