North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn is on the road steadily within his riding during summer break from the House of Commons.
Visiting Powell River Logger Sports on July 12, Gunn said he was attending the event with a heavy heart, following the workplace death of a local forest industry worker on July 10.
“For me, it’s a reminder that when so many of our resource sector workers go to work every day, they face certain inherent risks, and that’s another reason why they deserve our respect and our support,” said Gunn. “My heart goes out to the family.”
Gunn said in his first session of parliament, he got to ask his first question in question period, deliver his first speech, as well as a statement he dedicated to the resource sector workers in this riding and throughout the country. Having returned home for the summer, he said he has opened his first constituency office in Campbell River and his Powell River constituency office is slated to be open August 1 in the Powell River Town Centre mall to help meet the needs of his constituents.
Gunn said his time talking to constituents at the logger sports event was productive. He said in addition to hearing congratulations regarding his election, he received questions about what is going on in Ottawa, and questions on legislation such as Bill C-5, an act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, and the Building Canada Act, which establishes a framework to remove barriers to interprovincial trade of goods and services, and to improve labour mobility within Canada. Gunn said he also had questions about Bill C-2, which is an act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States, and respecting other related security measures.
“I also had questions around Canada Revenue Agency, immigration, as well as pressing issues for Powell River, such as what is going on with the purported sale of the mill site, the continued struggles around homelessness, addiction, supportive housing and other similar concerns,” said Gunn. “What I have always said is I want to be a very loud voice for the people of this riding. I want to make sure that Ottawa takes note of the concerns of the people of North Island-Powell River, whether that’s regarding the affordability issues, whether that’s with regard to the crime and drug issues that we’ve seen, and whether that’s just about building a stronger economy and safer communities that everyone can enjoy.”
Gunn said that over the summer, he plans to travel to each community in the riding.
“I’ll be back in Powell River for sure, for the office opening and for the Blackberry Festival,” said Gunn. “The goal is to be here multiple times over the summer. I want to have open communication with my constituents. That’s why I came to logger sports. Anyone can walk up and share their grievances or offer their congratulations. I want to have an open-door policy for my constituents, whether they voted for me or not. I’m elected to represent all constituents.”
Gunn said North Island-Powell River is one of the biggest and most populous ridings in the country, so when he gets back from Ottawa, the travel doesn’t stop – it changes from airplanes to ferries.
Gunn said a particular area of focus for him will be fisheries, given his appointment to the government’s standing committee on fisheries and oceans. He said at logger sports, he fielded questions about the chinook salmon opening and the economic challenges that restrictions on commercial fishers have put on them and their families.
“I hear from fishermen and their concerns about the restrictions – I would call them unscientific restrictions, in some cases,” said Gunn. “I’ve also had a call about the de-staffing of lighthouses. Fisheries and oceans is a very big, complicated file, with a big department, lots of different user groups, and many different fisheries, but that complexity excites me and is something that interests me. I’m looking forward to taking it on when the committee reconvenes in September.”
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