Thanks so much to Christina Kinney, co-owner of Mulberry Bush Books for welcoming Jagmeet Singh and I to her wonderful shop, truly a landmark in Qualicum Beach. We have amazing independent book stores throughout our riding of Courtenay-Alberni and this is a gem, to be sure. It was pretty tough tearing ourselves away from the wonders on the Mulberry Bush shelves, I can assure you. Another reminder to shop local!
Today is International Women’s Day which gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. Thanks to the Canadian Federation of University Women (Parksville-Qualicum Branch) Vice President Christine Pagan for welcoming Jagmeet Singh and I for a “fireside chat” in Parksville on Wednesday. It was an opportunity to hear from women in our riding on issues of concern. Jagmeet talked to the gathering about NDP priorities and responded to questions about the rollout of pharmacare and other health benefits the NDP has forced the government to establish; guaranteed living wage; clean water in Indigenous communities; the toxic drug crisis; carbon capture; homelessness; and, the NDP’s motion to end the horrors in Gaza. Thanks to all those women who took time to attend this gathering and for the important issues that they raised with Jagmeet and I.
Last week, Jagmeet asked if I know any shops in Qualicum Beach that women own, he wanted to stop by a few and show his support in advance of International Women’s Day on Friday. There are certainly lots to choose from in QB, I know this from our small business walks and shop-local campaigns. Alcove Home Living on Memorial sprung to mind and sure enough, we were warmly welcomed by owner Meghan Robertson and her amazing team. This shop focuses on selling handmade goods by small, local makers, all products produced within 150 km of the shop. Thanks again for a great visit, Meghan!
Today and every day we recognize the hard work and determination it takes for women to open and create small businesses. I work with Jagmeet and see a lot of him but even I was excited to see him at the Courtyard Cafe and talk about women-owned businesses with the warm welcoming staff! As well as visiting the Pink Label salon in Qualicum Beach. Truly a highlight of Jagmeet's visit to our riding. Best wishes on this International Women's Day.
It was truly an honour to accompany our leader Jagmeeet Singh and North Island-Powell River MP Rachel A Blaney at Courtenay’s Lush Valley Food Action Society yesterday to announce one of the NDP specific demands for the upcoming budget: a national school lunch program. Canada is the only G-7 country without a national school lunch program.
BC currently covers 20% of the most vulnerable kids and we need the federal government to fill the gap. Lush Valley has been a strong advocate for a national program and has been picking up the slack in the Comox Valley but it should not fall to community organizations to do this work without support from all levels of government, as I told the media. In addition to ensuring that every child will have a healthy lunch, the program will alleviate a significant source of stress and financial burden for parents.
I very much appreciated the invitation by Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Manager of Community Initiatives Brooke Wood to attend the "Pacific Rim Region Coastal Safety Coordination Meeting" in Tofino on March 4th. This meeting was initiated by myself and federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault to bring together various organizations to enhance regional recreational coastal safety through education, prevention and response strategies. Community representatives in attendance were loud and clear about the reinstatement of the 36 year old Surf Guard Program at Incinerator Rock which has the highest rate of incidents and drowning fatalities since the Conservative government shut it down in 2012 as part of the Harper/Poilievre austerity program that included cuts to veterans services, fisheries offices and scientific research. Ironically, they pointed out, several beaches within national parks on the East Coast of Canada are far less dangerous with fewer visitors but include life saving programs. I pledged to continue the fight for Surf Guard in Parliament. I’m not backing down on this.
Today, I was pleased to join an "intergenerational community in care, connection and collective action” which came together in Port Alberni to respond to the call from the Palestinian Youth Movement for a global day of action. In Parliament, I stand with my NDP colleagues in their continued call for Canada to work for peace for Palestinians and Israelis. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000 with 70% of the victims women and children. The Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7 killed almost 1,200 people and over 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.
Millions of residents of Gaza are displaced and at risk of starvation, death and disease and the U.N. reports over 70% of civilian infrastructure including homes, hospitals, schools, water and sanitation facilities have been destroyed or severely damaged by military attacks. Israelis are still at risk of attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups including Hamas and Hezbollah. The NDP continues to call for: an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages; suspension of all trade in military goods and technology with Israel and increased efforts to stop the illegal trade in arms, including to Hamas. Among other key measures, we also call for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. The decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories must end and work must progress towards a two-state solution. Go here to see the full NDP motion calling on Canada to act to end the horror in Gaza: https://bit.ly/4bYtrvs
Thanks to Cari McIntyre, the Emergency Planning Coordinator of the Comox Valley Emergency Program for visiting me on Parliament Hill. I was pleased to give her a tour and as always, I was super impressed with her work, passion and commitment to emergency planning and response in the Comox Valley. We talked a lot about the opportunities for coordination between all levels of government in to mitigate the effects of climate change and to establish infrastructure and respond to climate disasters. Great to hear her commons sense solutions to being better prepared for the future.
Hats off to the Parksville Rotary Club and Speedy Glass for their amazing fundraising for worthwhile causes through their recycling program. Every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, a crew of dedicated volunteers receives and sorts community donations of refundable bottles and cans in Speedy’s parking lot. Over three years, they have raised an astounding $240,000. In January alone, the ring-leaders of this operation, the "Three Amigos" John, Joe and Bill along with their hard-working crew raised $22,000! Thanks to Glen for showing me around when I dropped by to learn more about the program on Saturday.
I loved showing the Alberni Clayoquot Health Network’s Community Building Youth Futures team around Parliament Hill on Monday. The project aims to develop system wide solutions for youth as they build and act upon plans for their future. Great to see Toni Buston, Jaclyn Haberl, Jordan Higgins and Marcie Dewitt, all doing good work from Bamfield/Anacia to Tofino/Ucluelet to the Alberni Valley. They briefed me on their work creating safe spaces for youth and spoke in support of our work on mental health harm reduction and advocacy for more treatment, recovery, and stabilization beds, as well funding for education and prevention. I was inspired by their energy and commitment and compassion. I’m looking forward to keeping in touch with this wonderful initiative.