Sarnia-Lambton's MP has been named to new Conservative party leader Erin O'Toole's shadow cabinet.
Marilyn Gladu will serve as president of the Queen's Privy Council and as shadow minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, or FedDev Ontario.
Gladu said the purpose of the Privy Council is to provide public service support for all of Justin Trudeau's cabinet initiatives and to implement all programs across all government departments.
"I'll be looking at how the government is implementing their plans and their ethical behaviour as part of Privy Council," said Gladu. "You will recall that one of the members of Privy Council had to step down over the SNC Lavalin scandal. So, I'm excited to get to work."
In her FedDev role, Gladu said she's excited to try to come up with a post-pandemic recovery plan for southwestern Ontario, to get people back to work and address local issues.
"Well clearly Justin Trudeau does not have a plan for economic recovery after this pandemic, and we can see that in addition to the damage that's been done to small business and tourism and restaurants, there are also issues that are facing the larger employers in our area," she said.
"The Clean Fuel tax is going to cost refineries $3 or $4 billion a year, and that may be existential to them remaining here. We also see pressure being brought to bear on the plastics industry, and so these are things that I think we need to be responsible for the environment, but we need to make sure that we don't drive away the jobs that we do have."
MP Lianne Rood in the neighbouring Lambton-Kent-Middlesex riding has been named shadow minister for agriculture and agri-food.
She had been serving as deputy shadow minister prior to the announcement.
"We'll continue to hold the government to account, and to come up with ideas to stand up for our farmers and agri-businesses to make sure they have the support and the tools that they need to be a success going forward and also to ensure our food security as well."
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MP Lianne Rood speaks during Question Period at the House of Commons. 6 December 2019.
Rood said her experience in the farming community will be an asset.
"I grew up on a potato farm myself, and we did other vegetables as well," she said. "One thing we know is that agriculture is a key foundation of our country, not only in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. Farm families are critical pillars of our rural economy and they work tirelessly to put the best quality food on our tables. I'm excited to be a voice for them and stand up for them."