Federal response to environmental innovation makes no sense – Dan in Ottawa – Castanet.net

The news reported by the parliamentary media often seems disconnected from my constituents’ experiences, as I hear on my annual summer listening tour. This tour helps me determine whether my efforts as a Member of Parliament are in sync with my constituents’ aspirations and challenges or whether they need to be reassessed.

Based on this year’s tour, my constituents’ main concerns are the cost of living, housing, and health care, which are probably consistent with the government’s own focus groups and polls that have led to this significant cabinet shuffle.

While I have often criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for retaining ministers well past their prime out of loyalty, while demoting or outright pushing out those who show any semblance of independent thought, this shuffle was different.

One of the most important jobs of a prime minister is to build, if not maintain, national unity. As the most western province, British Columbia often does not look for leadership from Ottawa.

Having strong voices in the cabinet, coupled with important portfolios, allows British Columbia, Canada’s third-largest province, to have more impact on the power dynamics in Ottawa.

It was expected that the previous minister of fisheries and oceans would eventually retire, but the demotion of Carla Qualtrough from one of the biggest positions in employment to sport, while promoting a former parliamentary secretary to a new and relatively benign minister of citizen services, is disappointing.

This shows that the prime minister has chosen to diminish rather than increase the voices of British Columbia in the cabinet.

The prime minister, his finance minister, environment minister, natural resources and industry minister have stayed the same, signalling that Canadians should not expect a complete or partial reversal on many vital files.

Unless demonstrated otherwise, the status quo will continue with out-of-control inflationary spending, a rising carbon tax to 61 cents/litre, anti-energy policies that increase the cost of living while stifling jobs and investment in our country, and more multi-billion dollar subsidies to mature profitable industries.

One of the more minor but thorny issues I hope the new minister of health will address is Health Canada’s recent regulatory proposals on natural health products and their associated user fees.

Consumers and Canadian producers of health products are gravely concerned about what they consider over-the-top labelling requirements and new fees that will hollow out choice and competition.

My constituents are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, and the country is more divided than ever. I wish these new cabinet ministers well as they tackle these issues.

Do you view this cabinet shuffle positively, or is it just another example of the “Ottawa Bubble”? Why or why not?

Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

As of the morning of July 19, 2023, a little-known federal tribunal, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, has required the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to return to regular operations at over 30 ports and sites across British Columbia, including at the Port of Vancouver – the largest port in Canada.

This decision was made after the ILWU leadership rejected an agreement, in principle, that temporarily ended the strike of over 7,400 workers across the province. While the union had bargained on working conditions and scope of work, it primarily focused on wages, citing the very real cost of living for necessities like groceries, gas, heating, and housing.

There are other very real costs attached to this strike. The Vancouver Board of Trade has estimated that every day the port remains shut, it costs $800 million. This is a staggering $10 billion price tag for the Canadian economy. Naturally, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has called for the government to recall Parliament to debate back-to-work legislation.

So, what has been the reaction from political parties?

The federal NDP critic recently told reporters that the NDP would only support the collective bargaining process and not support any back-to-work legislation.

Speaking to reporters, the ministers for labour and transportation called the resumption of a strike “illegal,” and beyond encouraging the parties to get back to the negotiating table, they did not appear to have a broader plan.

Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party’s leader, blamed the minister of labour, who was quick to take credit for the initial deal. He also called for the prime minister to chart a plan “within 24 hours” to deal with the impasse.

What do I think? While I have yet to receive a single email or phone call from a constituent to complain about this strike, I have concerns.

As I have been on my summer listening tour in all regions of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, I have heard from constituents that their most significant concerns are the cost of living, housing, and health care. We live in a higher price environment due to out-of-control inflationary spending and higher carbon taxes.

The doubling of rents or housing alone has created an untenable situation for the average worker or pensioner. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that the workers have a legitimate point regarding wages.

Secondly, when small businesses and farmers throughout my riding realize that their inputs or products are stuck in transit and must pay for storage, they often incur contractual losses due to non-delivery. The inevitable shortages that force them to raise their prices will be at a time when a large portion of constituents will be completely tapped out.

In addition to the costs to the economy that the Board of Vancouver rightly raises, there is the question of Canada’s reputation and the long-term impacts of a strike.

First, all ports in North America have work stoppages due to labour disputes. However, this is the first strike in Canada at risk of going past two weeks – something we have not seen since the high inflationary days of the 1980s.

If large users of the port decide that they would rather pay more to use less efficient routes than rely on the Port of Vancouver, that could see prices increase in the long term and impact jobs and investment. Once these business decisions are made, they are seldom reviewed.

Speaking of decisions, the Liberals have also been very lax regarding being proactive with our transportation systems. The flare-ups of chaos we have seen in federally regulated airports, to the shutdown of one of our most important supply chains show their neglect.

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered the 2021 federal election, he said that the election came at a “pivotal, consequential moment… We will be taking decisions that will last not just for the coming months but for the coming decades.”

This is a pivotal, consequential moment for Canadian workers, small businesses, and consumers – all stretched and challenged by the strike. So, I agree with Poilievre that the prime minister must present a plan immediately.

My question this week:

Do you believe that the Liberal Government has done a good job of managing our supply chains? Why or why not?

I can be reached at [email protected] or toll free at 1-800-665-8711.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.