Published: December 15, 2008 6:00 PM
Updated: December 15, 2008 6:45 PM
Revelstoke Times - Review
During the first week of December, the Opposition Rural Caucus travelled throughout the interior of British Columbia to talk to northern and rural residents. We met with a number of groups including the BC Cattleman, various Chambers of Commerce, resident hunters’ organizations and the Off-Road Vehicle Coalition. We also held roundtable discussions in each of the communities that we visited where concerned citizens had the chance to talk about the issues that mattered to them.
Throughout British Columbia, the issues raised by residents were consistent. And these are the same issues that my constituents raise with me each day.
We heard deep concerns from people about the cost of rural living, and their sense of concern about the future of their employment and their businesses. The insecurity they felt related to the crisis in forestry, the removal of government services in their communities, and government policies that seem designed to undermine their ability to continue to live comfortably within their home communities.
People are concerned with the state of our education system, the lack of childcare and seniors care, the absence of accessible and affordable housing, and the decisions being made by this government that will result in the sell-off of our public resources. From the Cariboo to the Kootenays, rural communities are suffering under a government that does not care about rural issues.
The Opposition Rural Caucus is responding to rural issues by putting forward a plan for rural communities. Our plan includes developing ways to return the wealth generated in rural communities through resource extraction to those communities. Rural Caucus has also committed to restoring local autonomy for rural communities by repealing legislation that removes local governments from decision-making.
I believe that we need to actively protect our rural way of life, and I am working with my caucus colleagues to develop policies and initiatives that will revitalize the communities that generate British Columbia’s wealth.