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Weiler to use FUSE to stay connected with Coast

Patrick Weiler, who was elected as the new Liberal MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country two months ago, says he’s settling into the Ottawa routine and working to get his constituency team in place.
Weiler
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Patrick Weiler at his swearing-in last week.

Patrick Weiler, who was elected as the new Liberal MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country two months ago, says he’s settling into the Ottawa routine and working to get his constituency team in place.

“It’s definitely been a learning experience,” Weiler told Coast Reporter this week. “But I’m fortunate enough to follow in the footsteps of an incumbent who’s been a great resource and I’ve had the opportunity to hire back some really incredible staff that worked for her.”

One of those staff members staying with the Liberal constituency team is Pam Goldsmith-Jones’ former assistant for the Sunshine Coast.

Weiler also said instead of a permanent Sunshine Coast office he’ll be using the FUSE Community Workhubs operated by the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization.

“After looking into a lot of different options, the one that made the most sense was taking advantage of the co-working spaces,” he said. “We saw it as a great way of being able to meet with constituents whether they’re in Gibsons or Sechelt or Pender Harbour rather than having to meet people in coffee shops or one office.”

Details for set monthly office hours at each of the FUSE locations are still being worked out. Weiler is also keeping the Horseshoe Bay constituency office used by the previous MP, which he said proved convenient to West Vancouver, the ferry from Langdale and the Sea to Sky Highway.

Like all new MPs, Weiler’s been going through orientation and meeting with his fellow caucus members and ministers and MPs from the other parties. He got his first taste of the back-and-forth of the House of Commons Dec. 5., when he seconded the motion to accept the Throne Speech.

“It echoed a lot of the different priorities that were in our platform that we campaigned on and likewise that I think that we have a lot of common ground with some of the other parties in the House … particularly the focus on environment and climate change, reconciliation, making life more affordable and investing in health care,” Weiler said.

Opposition MPs had a chance to respond and Conservative Michael Kram of Regina-Wascana wrapped up his comments by saying, “Can the member opposite please tell the House what the government will do to repair the damage that it has done to the resource sector and to national unity?”

Weiler said the sense of western alienation he heard in that question “is absolutely something that we’re cognizant of and we’re setting up processes and systems to make sure we are able to listen to the concerns that are raised by those citizens and making sure that we’re going to be governing in partnership with other parties to address those concerns.”

Weiler’s first few days in Parliament also included a chance to gauge the tone in Question Period. “I don’t think it’s getting better, and in some cases it may be getting worse and it’s a little bit disheartening to see that,” he said. “But I notice from discussions I’ve had with colleagues from other parties outside the House of Commons that there is a lot of commonality and there will be opportunities to work together.”

Some of the local issues Weiler said he’s already working on in Ottawa include affordable housing and “creative ways of addressing housing challenges we have throughout the riding, especially on the Sunshine Coast,” seniors issues, infrastructure investments, and concerns about fisheries, including poaching.

Weiler said he’s already had a chance to raise those issues with Bernadette Jordan, the Nova Scotia MP who took over as fisheries minister from North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson when he was assigned the environment portfolio.

Jordan was active on the derelict and abandoned vessels file in her previous term, and Weiler said she’s going into the job with a firm grasp on B.C.’s concerns.

“I know those are top of mind for her and the likelihood is that the parliamentary secretary may be from the Pacific coast, so you have both the Atlantic and Pacific coast issues that are represented in how that file is going to be managed,” he said.