A familiar role for the MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo who will once again serve as the Shadow Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations.

Cathy McLeod was previously in that role from 2015 to 2017 under interim leader Rona Ambrose and from 2017 to 2019 under previous leader Andrew Scheer. She tells NL News she is excited to hit the ground running again on what she calls an important file.

“I’ve really benefited from the vision of our leaders, whether it be people like Manny Jules or Harold Calla or the many chiefs that are looking for opportunity who are pretty good about telling me what the government needs to do,” she said. “I like to think I take a lot of guidance from some of the great leadership that we have around the province.”

“As we know, if we want to move forward on whether its natural resource projects or many other opportunities, we have to have those very important conversations. And certainly, in British Columbia, we have many many outstanding issues that the rest of the country does not have.”

McLeod was appointed Conservative Shadow Minister for Natural Resources (Forestry and Mining) following the 2019 Federal Election. The four-term Kamloops-area MP backed O’Toole during the recent Conservative leadership race.

“Really appreciate Erin O’Toole. We’ve had many conversations. I really appreciate the fact that he’s put a priority on this file. It’s important to him,” she said. “His leadership platform had a lot to say about it and that he had has had so many discussions with me in terms of where we need to go and what we should be doing.”

McLeod was first elected in the Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo riding in 2008. 

Meanwhile, Merritt-area MP Dan Albas, who represents the Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola riding will serve as the Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, while Ashcroft area MP Brad Vis, representing the Mission – Matsqui – Fraser Canyon riding will be the Shadow Minister for Housing.

Honoured to assume the role of Shadow Minister for Crown Indigenous Relations. Critical work ahead. https://t.co/CZGPzfDBLf

— Cathy McLeod MP (@Cathy_McLeod) September 8, 2020