Remaining "Grounded" in NE BC

January 23th, 2008

The House of Commons resumes sitting next week and following my latest whirlwind tour of our riding meeting with constituents, businesses and your municipal representatives I feel re-invigorated.

Beginning in my hometown of Fort St. John, I had the privilege to announce a $1-million federal investment in the city's Energy Interpretive Centre. Then it was on to Dawson Creek where I had an informative meeting with the city council discussing their concerns and the exciting projects underway in that city. This was followed by another enlightening exchange with attendees at the Dawson Creek Rotary Luncheon.

Later, the mayor and council of Tumbler Ridge were kind enough to free up their schedules to meet with me and provide an update on events in their town. I was also there to announce a $365,000, 3-year federal funding package for Tumbler Ridge Employment Needs Development Services (TRENDS) to help unemployed workers in the Tumbler Ridge area prepare for, secure, and retain jobs.

I was eager to head to Chetwynd to find out first-hand how that community is weathering the impending closure of the Canfor Sawmill and the loss of 188 direct jobs.

Also, I wanted to discuss the new $1-Billion Community Development Trust announced by the Prime Minister that is designed to assist communities just like Chetwynd, and many others in our riding, that have been affected by turbulent global market conditions. (Little did I know then that by week’s end, the Town of Fort Nelson would also be hard hit with the closure of their mills!)

Later I was the guest speaker at the Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce luncheon where I also announced a contract worth $4.2-million for the Obair Economic Society to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals residing in Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John, Hudson’s Hope, and Fort Nelson, so they can obtain skills training that will help them gain sustainable employment.

Then it was a hop across the rocks so I could get up to Mackenzie and gather input from their district council, the business community and displaced workers on the devastating impact of the layoffs in that community.

Back in Prince George, I attended the BC Natural Resources Forum where I announced another $6-million of federal funds to combat the spread of the Mountain Pine Beetle. And later that same Friday I was at the St. Vincent de Paul Society Drop-In Centre to announce our latest federal assistance to help the homeless in Prince George.

And this week began with two more important partnership infrastructure announcements, the first to relocate the southside weigh scales and four lane 5 km of Highway 97, and the second an investment in the city's new biomass green energy system.

And finally the tour culminated on a high note with another great trip down to McBride. An excellent exchange of views at an evening Chamber of Commerce meeting was followed by timely input from their mayor and council the next day.

Over 1500 km dodging moose on our icy northern highways ..... as always, an informative, and at times "breathtaking" tour!