Season 2 | Episode 5: David Bexte

After a busy few weeks on Parliament Hill, Grains on Tap is back with another episode. With Budget 2025 now tabled and parliamentarians deep into the fall sitting, grain farmers are watching a fast-moving policy landscape. From escalating trade tensions to stalled infrastructure priorities, it is a critical moment for Canada’s grain sector. Joining us this week is David Bexte, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Bow River, Alberta. Born and raised on a multi-generational grain farm and bringing more than 25 years of experience from the oil and gas sector, David offers a unique perspective on how Ottawa’s decisions ripple back to rural communities. In this episode, David walks us through his journey from the farm to the private sector to the House of Commons. He reflects on what surprised him most about life on the Hill, shares his early experience on the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee, and weighs in on the issues dominating conversations across the agriculture sector.  We dig into the mounting trade uncertainty facing Canadian farmers, his reaction to Budget 2025, and the federal government’s new “nation-building” infrastructure agenda – including why the absence of the Port of Vancouver stands out. So, pour yourself a cold one and tune in as we sit down with a new voice in Parliament bringing producer experience directly to Ottawa, right here on Grains on Tap. A special thank you to Beer Canada for sponsoring this podcast.