It has been a whirlwind journey for newly elected Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Tara Sawyer.
Elected to the Alberta legislature for the governing United Conservative Party in a byelection June 23, the former chair of Grain Growers of Canada and Alberta Grains has been appointed to the Alberta Next Panel. It will embark on live and virtual town halls starting this month as part of a province-wide consultation for input to strengthen Alberta’s autonomy on equalization payments, taxes, immigration, potential provincial police force and pension plan, and constitutional changes.
“I”m really excited to be on this panel. The citizens are going to have the opportunity all across the province to come and talk about what they want to see, what changes they think should be considered, and we will take all those recommendations together to put something forward,” said Sawyer, an Acme farmer, business owner and national agriculture leader.
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
“It’s time in this province where we have said, our premier and our party has said, enough is enough. Alberta is not being treated fairly, and this new federal government has got to come to the table, and there’s some changes that need to happen. So, the Alberta Next Panel is an opportunity for Albertans to have their say of what some of those things should look like to build a strong sovereign Alberta.”
When Sawyer was door knocking in her constituency during the byelection to replace former UCP MLA Nathan Cooper, who took a position in Washington, D.C., Sawyer acknowledged she heard fears by some residents of separation talk.
“Some people did not like the idea of separation, but they are frustrated, and they just want a strong Alberta. My message was, don’t give up hope. You have a government right now that is not just a provincial government, to be clear, our conservative party, under Premier Smith, is very clearly fighting on your behalf. It’s not just words,” said Sawyer.
She campaigned on the strong leadership qualities she brought to the table after a stint as chair of Grain Growers of Canada, the first woman elected to the role in the organization’s history. She also served as chair of Alberta Grains and Alberta Barley as a voice on agriculture policy, market access and sustainability on the provincial, national and international stage.
A city slicker who married into farming, the lens that Sawyer brings to politics has a well-rounded perspective of various viewpoints, where rural will have a voice as well.
“Personally and even into my family, we’ve always advocated and felt very strongly about the importance of having a farmer’s voice at every table, where decisions that are going to affect them are made with the rural perspective that is different from urban. I understand some of the lack of understanding urban maybe has on what we do, which is why I got so heavily involved. I think that sometimes the frustration in a rural environment is feeling like they’re overlooked or under appreciated or not considered for some of the bigger picture. That’s why it is important to have a rural voice there,” said Sawyer.
“My role was to be the voice for barley and wheat farmers in this area and in this province. I think any of my board members would tell you I have a strong voice at a table who’s not afraid to give her opinion and believes passionately and puts 110 (per cent) into something in things that I feel strongly about in making a difference. I’m just beyond humbled to have this opportunity.”
Sawyer and her husband, Matt, raise wheat, barley, canola and hay. Volunteering has included time in schools, coaching soccer, leading 4-H and serving with the Acme Royal Purple Elks. Her family was named Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers in 2011 and received the Calgary Stampede BMO Farm Family Award in 2014.
She said she knows all too well the plight of canola farmers facing tariffs, the cattle industry facing shrinking herds and all producers facing drought.
“I am a proud Albertan who’s really excited to be able to represent not only my riding, but this province. I’m excited to help be part of a team that believes in a strong Alberta free from the constraints of a Liberal federal government, and is standing up to them,” said Sawyer.
“I’m excited to hear from Albertans on this Alberta Next Panel. I think this is a really, really important process that we’re going to undergo.”
