Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, has been appointed as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of infrastructure and communities, the Honourable Denis Lebel.
Parliamentary secretaries assist members of the Cabinet in both their parliamentary and public duties, acting as a liaison between the minister and Parliament.
Braid is currently a member of the Conservative Party and was first elected in 2008 to represent the riding of Kitchener-Waterloo.
In an interview with The Cord, Braid shared his excitement.
“I’m very honoured to have been appointed,” he said. “And I’m very thankful to my constituents for the opportunity to serve in this national role.”
The appointment will require an increased presence in Ottawa; however, Braid asserted that his constituents in Kitchener-Waterloo would remain his main concern.
“My first priority will continue to be effectively representing the constituents of Kitchener-Waterloo and in addition to my local responsibilities, I will have new national responsibilities, assisting the minister in his duties,” he explained. “I have great respect for Minister Lebel and I’m very pleased to be involved in such an important portfolio. Infrastructure is critical to Canada’s prosperity and success as a nation.”
The ministry of infrastructure and communities is a federal department in charge of infrastructure policy development and delivery. Braid will be actively involved in one of the department’s main projects, the Building Canada Plan.
The Building Canada Plan is a national initiative launched in 2007 focusing on developing Canada’s infrastructure. It allows for provinces to address infrastructural needs and create long-term plans.
“In our most recent budget, our government renewed the Building Canada Fund with the most significant investment in public infrastructure in Canada’s history,” Braid said.
“We have committed over $50 billion for the next ten years and we will work in close partnership with other levels of government to address Canada’s infrastructure needs.”
Braid very modestly attributed his appointment to both his dedication to Kitchener-Waterloo and his position in Parliament.
“I hope it’s a recognition of the contributions that I’ve made both locally and nationally,” he explained. “I certainly look forward to the opportunity to work closely with the minister to be part of a very important portfolio for our country, and to contribute to the policy development process for infrastructure in Canada.”
Several federal infrastructure projects are currently underway in the Region of Waterloo, including the Highway 8 expansion and the ongoing Light Rapid Transit construction.
The position of parliamentary secretary will provide Braid with the opportunity to work increasingly at a national level.
“I certainly look forward to working in close collaboration with various stakeholders across the country including other levels of government, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and forging even closer partnerships with those important stakeholders,” he said.
“The other opportunity that this will provide, which in invaluable, is the opportunity to learn more about the country we live in.”