Voters in the Peace region are well positioned to influence the provincial Liberals' 2017 election platform.
Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier will work alongside North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Naomi Yamamoto as chief information gathers when it comes to developing the Liberal party’s platform for the next election.
“Two years goes by very quickly,” Bernier said.
He and Yamamoto have already held initial meetings and are working to develop an outreach plan that will give them a chance to gather input on policies.
“We won’t have a chance to see every person face-to-face, but we want to have opportunities for people to feed in ideas for us,” Bernier added.
A big part of the B.C. Liberal’s 2013 election platform included developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, and that theme will likely also be a feature of the 2017 platform, Bernier said.
“Obviously one of the biggest things we were pushing for last [election] was LNG and what we had to do as a government to have LNG come to fruition,” he explained, adding this involved developing a tax regime and putting policies in place to regulate development.
“All the steps that we said we were going to do, we’ve done. Now we’re just waiting for the companies,” Bernier added.
Yamamoto and Bernier’s main thrust will be information gathering via meetings with MLAs around the province, businesses and constituents. The suggestions they gather will then be brought back to the party.
“There’s a big machine behind it,” Bernier said. “It’s a nice opportunity for me because I know there are issues in this region that I’ll be able to bring and highlight.”
Bernier noted issues like healthcare provision in the North and South Peace and seniors housing needs are a few points of contention.
Also on the list will be increasing trades training opportunities at Northern Lights College, “to ensure more locals get the jobs available,” and “looking at further opportunities to make our highways safer.”
Bernier and Yamamoto will put together a presentation for the party's caucus and Annual General Meeting sometime this fall.
