Devin Dreeshen

Gyms are open now! Getting into shape for the upcoming Alberta Wildfire training course this spring. New recruits need to complete the course in less than 14.5 minutes to join Alberta’s wildfire fighting team. Here’s a great link of what it’ll look like:... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cDJ0nAtvM4I

Get your 50/50 tickets! Starting today until Sunday at 9PM you can get your 50/50 tickets for the Jackpots for Junior Hockey. Draws will be held every weekend in March to support Alberta’s athletes and arenas across Alberta. Go Rebels, Go!!... For more details, go to https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm

Alberta’s hog producers are economic drivers in our province. They are world leaders in the livestock sector, they support our rural communities by creating thousands of jobs and export more than $500 million worth of food across the globe. Unfortunately, we are seeing disruptions in their supply chain with an estimated backlog of more than 100,000 hogs. In response to the difficulties that Alberta hog producers are facing, I’m proud to announce that we have launched a new $4...M AgriRecovery program to support them through this challenging time. We want to make sure that hog producers are getting the supports that they need so that they can continue to do what they do best, which is producing safe, high-quality food, not just for Alberta families but for families all around the world. Read more here: https://www.alberta.ca/article-supporting-alberta-hog-produ

Research is critical to agriculture’s success in Alberta. In Budget 2021 Alberta’s government committed $37M to agriculture research more than all other prairie provinces combined. After talking with thousands of Albertans, it was clear that farmers and ranchers should be setting research priorities. The creation of Results Driven Agriculture Research takes the politics out of Ag research, provides predictable and long-term funding, and ensures that farmers and ranchers are in the driver’s seat.

Agricultural events are so important to Alberta. Whether it's horse jumping, 4-H shows, or Ag Society events - they're critical to developing strong communities, great sporting shows and family entertainment. We want to work with and ensure these volunteers and facilities are around for generations to come. https://www.ponokanews.com//calnash-ag-event-centres-fina/#

Christmas is coming up and it’s great to see businesses come together for families in Innisfail. I was happy to participate in the Bladez 2 Fadez Barbershop Christmas Fundraiser that will support dozens of local families this Christmas. Thanks Natalie Klein for a fantastic initiative!

Sungold Meats is a great company that employs 87 people in Innisfail and generates tens of millions in sales. They process over 70% of Alberta’s lamb market and export high quality meat around the world. And also our grocery stores.

Thank you Government of Saskatchewan for supporting YourAlberta in our fight against the mountain pine beetle which threatens more than $11 billion worth of pine in Alberta. Alberta has spent $560 million since the introduction of this pest from British Columbia. With the support of Saskatchewan, we can ensure that Canada's boreal forest remains protected. This is the second year that Saskatchewan has provided $1 million to Alberta to help limit the spread of MPB eastward. ... We are making progress but there is still more work to do to eradicate this devastating forest pest.

Great to speak and take questions at the Thanks For Farming Tour in Red Deer! Over 75 exhibitors, hundreds of hard working farmers and ranchers attending today and tomorrow.

I was proud to rise in the House today to move second reading of Bill 40, Growing Alberta’s Forest Sector Amendment Act. Alberta's forest sector plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our forests by reducing the risk of fires and pests like the mountain pine beetle. Bill 40 will give our forest sector the flexibility and certainty it needs to lead Alberta's Recovery Plan.

Albertans expect that unions should respect the bargaining process. Unions should stop putting Albertans’ safety at risk and abide by the law. https://globalnews.ca//alberta-labour-board-health-c/amp/

Honoured to be invited to the Sylvan Lake Remembrance Day Service. We remember, thank and honour our veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country. Not just today, but everyday.

Research is critical to Alberta agriculture. This $3.4M investment to the University of Calgary will increase its research capacity to better serve Alberta ranchers and livestock producers. This will also help train new vets and create a veterinary diagnostics centre of excellence in Alberta. Test turnaround times will be hours instead of days as we become more self-reliant rather than shipping samples out of the province.

Great questions at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta Ministers’ Forum this morning. First question was on agriculture research. I highlighted the new 10-year, $370M research commitment and development of (RDAR) Results Driven Agriculture Research organization that will put farmers and ranchers in the driver seat in prioritizing where public agriculture research dollars go. There was also questions on forestry and the benefits of Bill 40 that’s currently in the Legislature. I promoted the importance of the industry that provides over 40,000 jobs and contributes $350M in royalties to Alberta.

Great to be home in the riding. Caught up on calls and had a surprise visit from Kaden and Colby Hollman from Knee Hill Valley 4-H Beef Club. They both did a great job raising steers this year and are strong advocates for agriculture. Then met with Bowden Mayor Robb Stuart and discussed everything from attracting new businesses to the $130,561 Municipal Operating Support Transfer for Bowden. Then met with Sherri McAllister from McMan Youth and Community Services Association and told her the good news of a $65,675 provincial grant to directly support families around central Alberta.

Congratulations to the Bowden 2020 grads! So proud of Alberta’s future leaders. This year has obviously been difficult on students but their determination and self-reliance to finish grade 12 finally paid off.

Two great announcements for agriculture in Lethbridge. The Lethbridge College and University of Lethbridge will receive $2M and $1.8M to further their agriculture research capacity. This research ranges from cattle to irrigation. World leading research programs and researchers will leverage the great post secondary networks in Lethbridge. ... This also creates teaching opportunities for the next generation of Alberta’s agriculture researchers.

Finished up all my Friday constituency meetings. Now some free time to enjoy our fall weather. #ableg

Research is critical to Alberta agriculture. Today, the Alberta government announced $3.4M in new research dollars that will allow the University of Calgary to increase their testing capacity to better serve Alberta ranchers and livestock producers. This funding came out of our 17 research consultation stops over the last year with more than 2000 submissions from the Alberta agriculture sector. ... It also builds on our $37M provincial commitment to results driven agriculture research. This is more provincial agriculture research funding than the other prairie provinces combined. https://lethbridgenewsnow.com//research-on-animal-health-/

Honoured to introduce Bill 40 (Growing Alberta’s Forest Sector Amendment Act) in the Legislature. Albertans own 87M acres of forests and this Act will keep our forests sustainable into the future. It will also improve our forestry sector’s competitiveness and help create jobs. In 2020, Albertans will receive up to $350M in forestry royalties, about 1/3 of our projected oil/gas royalties for the year. ... Forestry has been, and will continue to be, an important renewable resource sector in Alberta. https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm

This historic $815M investment into irrigation will create over 8,000 jobs, build hundreds of kilometres of new pipelines, and add over $436M annually to Alberta’s economy. These projects will add 200,000 new acres of irrigated farmland in Alberta - equivalent to 1/3 of Prince Edward Island’s total farmland. Food processors are looking for reliable irrigated farmland to supply new operations and this expansion will help direct that investment to Alberta.

Over the past year, through 17 consultation stops and 2000 submissions, farmers and ranchers told us that they should be setting research priorities, not government. We heard that loud and clear, and are making it a reality. We understand the critical role that agriculture research plays, which is why we committed to a 10 year agreement with Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) resulting in a $370 million investment in agriculture research. With farmers and ranchers setting research priorities, agriculture will continue to drive Alberta's economic recovery.

Historic $815 million dollar investment in agriculture to expand irrigation and attract more food processors to Alberta. Of the $815 million, $407.5 million will come from the federal government through a loan to the irrigation districts. $244.5 million will be contributed by the province, while irrigation districts will spend $163 million directly. This expansion will see hundreds of kilometres of pipelines built, contribute about $436 million annually to Alberta’s GDP, and ...create over 8,000 jobs. The more than 200,000 acres of new irrigated farmland created from this expansion is roughly a third of P.E.I.’s total farmland. Alberta started out and always will be an agriculture powerhouse. https://lethbridgenewsnow.com//several-southern-alberta-i/

Great to announce $3.7M in new agriculture research funding to the U of A for beef, cereal, dairy and poultry research. This investment at the University of Alberta will leverage existing research capacity and offer new teaching opportunities for the next generation of agriculture researchers in Alberta. https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm

LIVE: Announcing a major investment in irrigation infrastructure

Did a virtual announcement today with Seamus O'Regan! Thank you to him for $60-million in new funding for the on-going fight against the mountain pine beetle. Great news for our lumber workers and for everyone who cares about the health of Alberta’s forests. Alberta has spent over $560M to fight against the mountain pine beetle that threatens jobs, communities and $11B worth of pine trees in Alberta.... More detail here: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm

Great to announce $10.5M for Olds College to run Agriculture and Forestry’s field crop development centre. This will leverage and increase research capacity and create new teaching opportunities in central Alberta. Tremendous cereal varieties have been developed over the years and a more farmer-focused research program under Olds College, will just make a good thing better. https://www.oldscollege.ca//albertas-barley-program-movin/

Yesterday, I toured the new $50M mill upgrade outside Grande Cache by Foothills Forest Products. Shows strong investor confidence in Alberta’s forestry sector. Grand re-opening coming soon! #ableg #ABRecovery

Join us live at Olds College as we announce an exciting step forward for agriculture research in Alberta.

Minister stresses importance of forest sector to province's recovery In Alberta the forestry sector is critical, not just because it supports over 40,000 jobs across the province, it generates billions of dollars of exports every year. Record-breaking lumber prices have underscored the importance of Alberta’s forest industry as an economic powerhouse in Alberta’s Recovery Plan.... https://cochranenow.com//minister-stresses-important-of-fo

LIVE: Supporting Alberta’s forestry sector

Alberta will see a farm-friendly CEO following the appointment of Darryl Kay by the AFSC board. His main priorities are: - customer service, where farmers and ranchers feel like they are a valued customer and listened to. - improving farm programs, working with the provincial government to better develop programs that work and create new ideas for outdated ones. ... - attracting more value-added food processing investments, because when there’s more buyers for Alberta’s agriculture products, our farmers and ranchers win with higher prices and opportunities. https://www.standard-freeholder.com//f27480ea-a0e8-40/amp

Kind words from U.S. Embassy Ottawa staff for our Alberta Wildfire firefighters. We’re proud to do our part to help our friends and neighbours. On September 15th, Alberta sent 14 firefighters to Pendleton, Oregon to aid with their firefighting efforts. We also sent 30 to Redman, Oregon on September 17th. Our firefighters and staff working on the Slater, Archie Creek, Holiday Farm, Lion’s Head and Clackamas did everything from logistics, planning and on-the-ground firefightin...g. https://twitter.com/usembassyot/status/1311375768329629696

Alberta has a hard-earned reputation for high-quality agricultural products and Alberta Beef is a brand recognized around the world. Thanks to the dedication of farmers and producers, Alberta’s cattle and crop sectors are strong and have proven they will remain so; regardless of what’s thrown at them. The Agriculture sector is on a path to a record year and is leading Alberta's economic recovery. These rewarding and high quality jobs are exactly what Albertans are looking for in such trying times.