Andrew Scheer says he will be taking a B次元官网网址渨ait-and-seeB次元官网网址� approach on the most recent cabinet shuffle from the Liberal Party.

At an event at a Naramata winery Monday evening, the recently elected Conservative Party leader spoke to a small crowd of supporters, as part of his Canadian tour, largely speaking to the need to B次元官网网址渕ake sure Justin Trudeau is a one-term prime minister.B次元官网网址�

It was ScheerB次元官网网址檚 first trip to the Okanagan since he was named the Conservative Party leader in the spring, with a stop in Kelowna also planned for Tuesday.

At the event, Scheer briefly took questions from reporters on a variety of subjects.

High on mind in a media scrum was the cabinet shuffle from the Liberals, which included the resignation of Judy Foote, who helmed the public works and procurement ministry.

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B次元官网网址淲e have a lot of respect for Judy Foote; sheB次元官网网址檚 in a different party, but sheB次元官网网址檚 had a long career of public service,B次元官网网址� Scheer said.

B次元官网网址淲ait and see how each minister performs, but I do think a lot of the times, the Liberals are good at changing symbols and changing letterhead, changing titles.B次元官网网址�

That comment was directed more specifically at one of the more dramatic changes for the Liberal Party cabinet. The Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Affairs was effectively split into two ministries, with one tackling reconciliation and the other tackling more day-to-day issues like education.

B次元官网网址淭he First Nations people I talk to, they want opportunities, and a lot of the things that the Liberals have done, unilaterally killing opportunities,B次元官网网址� Scheer said, noting in particular the moratorium on exploration and natural resource development in the North.

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B次元官网网址淭hey talk a lot about consultation and they talk a lot about engagement with our First Nations communities B次元官网网址� time and time again, they just donB次元官网网址檛 do it.B次元官网网址�

That said, Scheer said he was waiting to see how the newly split Indigenous affairs departments would work, but he didnB次元官网网址檛 see the change as significant without actual action.

B次元官网网址淲hen it comes to actual practical policies that improve the lives of Indigenous communities, they havenB次元官网网址檛 done any of that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of issues with their management and direction of the missing and murdered Indigenous women inquiry, so weB次元官网网址檙e going to adopt a wait-and-see approach and see what they actually do.

B次元官网网址淏ut changing titles, changing letterhead doesnB次元官网网址檛 actually improve services for people.B次元官网网址�

With NAFTA negotiations fully underway, Scheer says he intends to shuffle his shadow cabinet with an emphasis on trade.

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Asked by the Western B次元官网网址 what kind of deal he would like to see for Canadian wineries out of NAFTA negotiations, Scheer pointed to trade more broadly as a part of his partyB次元官网网址檚 strategy.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be making some changes to our shadow cabinet and trade is going to be a huge issue. There are so many jobs in Canada that depend on trade, that depend on that open border,B次元官网网址� Sheer said, adding the U.S. can also be guilty of the issues it accuses Canada of.

B次元官网网址淭he United States often, they sometimes point to things in Canada, but they have a lot of mechanisms that support their industries as well, and we have to approach these things with our eyes open.B次元官网网址�

Scheer said he believed the Liberal Party has B次元官网网址渕ishandled the trade fileB次元官网网址� by waiting and gauging the temperature before taking action.

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However, he offered no position on how he hoped Canadian wine would flow across the border to the south.

Having lost a pair of seats in the Okanagan last election, Scheer said he expected to B次元官网网址渃ome back with some exciting policies that will speak to creating prosperity here in British ColumbiaB次元官网网址� in an effort to win back those seats.

B次元官网网址淧reserving our wonderful environment, at the same time making sure that job creators are able to do what they do best, which is create opportunities for people,B次元官网网址� Scheer said. B次元官网网址淭he two can go hand-in-hand.B次元官网网址�

He added that he wasnB次元官网网址檛 intimidated by a leftward swing in Western Canada, with Alberta electing the NDP, the B.C. NDP taking power alongside the B.C. Green Party and the waning popularity of the Saskatchewan PartyB次元官网网址檚 Brad Wall.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 confident that we can offer a positive vision, an aspirational vision to Canadians that rejects the politics of the NDP.B次元官网网址�

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dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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