The federal Conservative national defence and global security critics are coming to Kelowna to hold a public town hall meeting.
James Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman in Manitoba, and Leona Alleslev, MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill in Ontario will be joined by Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas Feb. 11 at the Ramada Hotel in Kelowna. The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The public is invited to attend, ask questions and provide feedback about issues surrounding Canada’s national defence and global security, or any other federal issue, say organizers.
The visiting MPs will also meet with local individuals and visit area businesses the day before the town hall meeting, on Feb 10.
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Bezan was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and is the vice-chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defence, which is currently chaired by Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr. He was appointed his party’s “shadow minister” (the term the Tories use for critic positions) for national defence by current Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.
Bezan has been an outspoken critic of Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and an advocate for protecting Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and human rights. As a result, he was one of 13 Canadians sanctioned and banned by the Russian government in 2014.
Alleslev is a former Canadian Air Force officer and senior manager and has held leadership positions in the Department of National Defence as well with IBM Canada and Bombardier Aerospace. She served on the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada board, the Ontario Aerospace Council and the Women in Aerospace Association’s joint government/industry change initiatives.
Elected as a Liberal in 2015, Alleslev crossed the floor in Parliament to sit as a Conservative MP, saying as a Liberal her concerns about the current government, when she raised them, “were met with silence”and that’s why she joined the Tories.
In addition to being the “shadow minister” for global security, Alleslev also sits on the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Because seating will be limited for the town hall meeting, those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to dan.albas.cd1d@parl.gc.ca.
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