One of the problems of having a full fall legislative session is that it’s hard to get around the riding and stay connected with the people I’ve been elected to represent. I’m thankful that I have great staff but I also need direct contact with the communities and the people I serve to ensure I’m grounded in their realities and don’t lose sight of what’s important to them.
The last couple of weeks I’ve been catching up in my community office and have had a chance to travel around the riding to chat with people about what’s on their minds.
I attended a community meeting in Nazko regarding West Fraser’s new log storage and reload yard in that community. A breakdown in communication, primarily the fault of government, created tension in the community and resistance to West Fraser setting up this yard, despite the fact it’s essential to the company’s strategy to bring logs into Quesnel from Kluskus over the next 10 years. I’ll be working with government to organize a meeting in Nazko in the new year so the community can hear what the resource development plans are for that area.
I met with members of Williams Lake council and the CRD and had an opportunity to discuss some key provincial issues with them: the Pacific Carbon Trust, Prosperity mine, First Nations relations, invasive plants, mid-term timber supply, affordable housing, the proposed Resource Road Act, and the provincial government’s mixed messages on balancing the budget.
I’m also actively working with the City of Williams Lake, the CRD, the Williams Lake Indian Band and the communities of Big Lake, Miocene and Horsefly to advance the discussion about the proposed Williams Lake Community Forest. I’ll be attending a community meeting in Likely to get caught up on their successful community forest and other issues affecting that community.
I appreciate how patient people have been with both my staff and me as we’ve juggled my time in the legislature with the ongoing demands of the riding. Looks like next year will be another busy one, as the legislative calendar has been posted and shows full spring and fall sittings.
Bob Simpson is the Independent MLA for Cariboo North.
