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I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at home and the ability to get around the riding over the last month. We live in an amazing part of the province and, as much as I like Victoria, it’ll be hard to head back down there for the spring session, which starts on February 14th and runs through to the end of May.

Despite starting on Valentine’s Day, I don’t expect this session to be a love-in. The Liberal Party’s attack ads, the teacher’s dispute, log exports, the state of our justice system, child poverty and the provincial budget will provide a lot of fodder for partisan debate. Much of the rhetoric in the Legislature will likely be oriented toward the two upcoming by-elections.

As an Independent I have the luxury of staying above the partisanship and will focus my energies on the implications of the budget for our riding, the state of our forests and the industry that depends on them (including continuing to drive the bioeconomy strategy so we can grow our forest industry), continuing to call for radical change to the Pacific Carbon Trust, and advocating for more support for our agriculture sector. I’ll also have easier access to Ministers to bring constituent concerns directly to their attention.

In preparation for the session, I’ve spent time in the southern part of the riding (especially Williams Lake, Likely and Horsefly), met with business and industry leaders, discussed education reform with teachers and school Trustees, and addressed individual constituent concerns. I also had the pleasure of visiting, for the first time, the easternmost border of the riding where I met with some constituents who live at the end of Black Creek Road past Horsefly.

We’ve also had quite a bit of attention from various Cabinet Ministers these last few days. I joined Ministers Bell, Chong and Thomson at the signing ceremony for the participation agreement between the Williams Lake Indian Band and Mount Polley Mine – a first for BC. That same day various Ministers used Quesnel and Williams Lake to announce funding for new school buses, money for improved emergency care at our hospitals, new funding for the Success by 6 program, and funding assistance for seniors in rural communities.

Though the bulk of my time will be spent in Victoria over the coming months, I will be focused on bringing our region’s voice to Victoria so we can continue to get the resources we need to address our challenges and maximize our opportunities.

Bob Simpson
MLA Cariboo North