I was pleased recently to host a virtual townhall to listen to the concerns from people throughout our region.
I wanted to hold the town hall to connect with many of the people that I would normally be connecting through direct visits. This time of year, for example, I visited winter road communities on a regular basis.
I look forward to when we can get back to the normal ways of connecting.
The virtual townhall did provide a forum for many constituents to raise questions and ask concerns.
The feedback was clear. People want to see action on many of the issues that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the issues that have been with us for far too long and have not been addressed by the federal government.
People have concerns about healthcare. The need for significant improvements to healthcare in our region.
People were talking about the housing crisis. Again, something that made the situation with the pandemic even worse.
There were concerns about Infrastructure. We still have many communities without adequate infrastructure including communities who do not even have airport access. The need for improved online infrastructure was also raised, specifically the need for affordable quality internet, something that has only become more important during the pandemic.
The feedback from the virtual townhall will be very much the feedback I will continue to take forward to our virtual Parliament.
My message will be clear. Canada needs to do much more on health, education, infrastructure and economic development in our region.
