BY BOB ZIMMER
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP
It is always an honour for me to travel throughout the riding, to meet with community leaders and residents, and see firsthand some of the issues facing our region.
Recently, while in Prince George, I stopped by K.K.S. Tactical Supplies and met with owner Cassy Parker where we talked about the Liberal’s firearms ban and the negative impact it has had on her small business. We also discussed the application for judicial review she filed in federal court in the spring to try to have the ban overturned.
The next day I drove to Valemount to meet with Mayor Owen Torgerson, Councillor Pete Pearson, and CAO Wayne Robinson to discuss some of the concerns of the community and how I can help. Following the meeting, I was given a tour of the Cedar Valley Holdings mill with owner and operator Jason Alexander where he spoke of the challenges he has faced in keeping his cedar mill open.
There is no doubt that our local forestry sector has struggled in recent years. This industry is vital to our local and national economy and we need to do all that we can to support businesses like Jason’s to ensure that they can survive and thrive.
After visiting the mill, I headed for McBride to meet with regional director Dannielle Alan to discuss the Willox Creek mudslide and the affect it has had on the lives of those who reside in the area. We also spoke about the Dore River flooding and the property damage it is causing for residents along the river.
I then went to see the Dore River flooding for myself and met with Les Shawara and Robert O’Lennick. Both have property bordering the river and they spoke about how much land they have lost since river levels began to rise.
It was evident to me standing at the riverbank that the power of the water is not lessening as it continues to undercut people’s property and I will continue to look for ways that I can assist these residents in accessing support to help mitigate the flooding.
I want to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with me to discuss these important issues. These meetings and tours are a crucial way for me to continue to effectively advocate on behalf of our region and I look forward to visiting more of our communities in the coming weeks.