For Release Wednesday February 8, 2006

A busy week on the Hill

Ottawa (February 8, 2006) -- Ed Komarnicki, MP, (Souris-Moose Mountain) stated that, “it has been a busy week on the Hill that included some unexpected twists. The Cabinet choices caught many, including the media, off-guard. The switching of sides by David Emerson and his appointment to the Cabinet caused some raised eyebrows as did the appointment of Michael Fortier to the Senate and Cabinet. Although it is not necessarily the decision I would have made, I support our Prime Minister in making the decision he did.”

“First, I view our electoral victory as the first step towards a majority Government. We were under represented in the major cities of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. We did not win any of the five seats in Vancouver or have a candidate within 100 miles of Montreal or within the City of Toronto. David Emerson was less partisan than most politicians and his previous business and political experience, including that of Cabinet Minister, ensures that Vancouver and British Columbia has a strong voice at the Cabinet table. Unlike the Belinda Stronach cross-over, purely to preserve the interests of the Liberal Party, this step has the better interests of the City of Vancouver, British Columbia and of Canada as a whole in mind.”

“The Prime Minister has made it clear that Senate reform is on its way and that we will have Senate elections. That principle is firm and undiminished,” said Komarnicki “and what we see in the appointment of Michael Fortier is a one-off situation based upon the principle of giving Montreal, another major Canadian city, representation at the Cabinet table. Mr. Fortier is a strong federalist voice from Montreal within Cabinet, and it has to be remembered that he has agreed to resign his Senate seat and actively seek election during the next general election. The Prime Minister also made Cabinet appointments with the City of Toronto in mind. If we want to be a truly national party with a chance at majority government, then those kinds of decisions will need to be made.”

“We do have a good number of western representatives at the Cabinet table,” said Komarnicki, “including Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl. Although Mr. Strahl is not from Saskatchewan, I know him personally as do many western MPs. He is a very able listener, very focused at this time in his life, and a man who I believe will feel and understand the burden and stress farmers are experiencing.”

“I would have preferred to have seen the appointment of two Saskatchewan Cabinet Ministers, however with a greatly reduced Cabinet I can understand and accept the decision of the Prime Minister.” “This decision,” said Komarnicki “needs to be viewed in the context that 4 of the 26 Parliamentary Secretary appointments were given to Saskatchewan MPs, with my colleague David Anderson being given specific responsibility for the Canadian Wheat Board. In addition, over the next week or two, appointments will be made to the Standing Committee on Agriculture.”

“We met as a Saskatchewan caucus of twelve strong MPs who view agriculture as a primary concern. We have taken steps to arrange a meeting with the Agriculture Minister and will certainly press Saskatchewan concerns at this meeting. In addition, as a caucus we will place a significant emphasis on the emerging possibility of bio-diesel production within the province.”

“Personally,” said Komarnicki, “I am pleased and excited about my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the prospect of working in a challenging, vast and dynamic department such as Citizenship and Immigration. I certainly hope to leave my mark in this portfolio and learn from the experience that it will provide. It is a great opportunity to become closely involved in departmental affairs.”

Komarnicki went on to say, “as a Parliamentary Secretary, you work with the Minister and are afforded an overview on how the department works and functions. When the Minister is not available, the Parliamentary Secretary takes on many of the Ministerial responsibilities on behalf of the Minister, including Question Period, Cabinet and departmental briefings. I see it as a tremendous training ground and I am honoured to have been granted the appointment. I am looking forward to the challenge and added responsibility that comes with the role and duties of Parliamentary Secretary.”