UPDATED: Rayes replaced by John Nater as Heritage shadow minister

A Conservative MP who was outspoken on the revised Broadcasting Act, Bill C-10, will be replaced as Shadow Minister for Canadian Heritage after party leader Erin O’Toole announced his shadow cabinet Tuesday. Richmond—Arthabaska MP Alain Rayes who served as the Heritage critic since Sept. 2020 will be replaced by Perth—Wellington MP John Nater. Last year, in his position as Shadow Minister for Rural Economic Development, Nater criticized the Liberal government’s delay in launching the Universal Broadband Fund. In 2017 he also spoke out against Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada lobbying its former communications head, Leslie Church, who served as chief of staff to then Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, calling the appointment “a blatant conflict of interest.” Nater will likely have to deal with the reintroduction of Bill C-10 which died in the Senate as the election was called. The Conservatives were the only party opposed to the bill, arguing it is an attack on freedom of expression by including social media platforms in the bill. The party also criticized the Liberals and Bloc Québécois for imposing a “gag order” on committee and in the House. On Wednesday, the Conservatives also released their deputy shadow ministers. Serving in the deputy shadow role for Canadian Heritage is Saskatoon—Grasswood MP Kevin Waugh who sat on the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage during the Bill C-10 debacle and who also served as the shadow minister for the portfolio in 2015. The NDP announced its critics at the end of October. NDP MP Peter Julian and NDP MP Heather McPherson will join Nater as Heritage critics. Serving in the role for the Bloc, which announced its shadow cabinet shortly after the election, is Drummond MP Martin Champoux. Innovation, Science and Industry will also see a new face. Abbotsford MP Ed Fast, who most recently served as Shadow Minister for Finance and Middle Class Prosperity, will replace Edmonton Centre MP James Cumming as Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry. Fast's deputy shadow minister for the innovation portfolio will be newcomer Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams. Fast was first elected to parliament in 2006 where he was appointed to the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage. Two years later he moved to the Copyright Modernization Committee. In 2011, then Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave Fast a promotion as Minister of International Trade. In the role he worked on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which included provisions for internet service providers to block access to content subject to copyright restrictions. NDP MP Brian Masse once again finds himself in the role of Innovation, Science and Industry critic, with MP Richard Cannings as his deputy. Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques MP Maxime Blanchette-Joncas will serve in the role for the Bloc. During the summer the House of Commons Ethics Committee held hearings, and released a report, into accountability for companies such as MindGeek’s Pornhub, who are currently accused of hosting illegal content. Barrie—Innisfil MP John Brassard will be the shadow minister for the Ethics and Accountable Government portfolio, replacing Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MP Michael Barrett. His deputy will be Tobique—Mactaquac MP Richard Bragdon. Trois-Rivières MP René Villemure will serve as ethics critic for the Quebec party. MPs Matthew Green and Charlie Angus will serve in the roles for the NDP. Lambton—Kent—Middlesex MP Lianne Rood will serve as shadow minister for Rural Economic Development & Rural Broadband Strategy . O'Toole appointed two deputy shadow ministers for the portfolio -- Strategy Battle River—Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek and Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière MP Jacques Gourde. Parliament is set to convene on Nov. 22. Last month Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his new cabinet, with MP Pablo Rodriguez coming back to his old position as Minister of Canadian Heritage, and MP François-Philippe Champagne staying in his role as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. -- This story has been updated to include the deputy shadow ministers released by the Conservative Party on Wednesday afternoon. -- Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca and editing by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca

UPDATED: Rayes replaced by John Nater as Heritage shadow minister

Broadcast | November 9, 2021

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UPDATED: Rayes replaced by John Nater as Heritage shadow minister

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