... only the first step … then they need to implement those ideas

I am sure that many of you who are reading this, are not aware of the vast distance and geography of the 3 ridings that make up Kamloops South Thompson, Kamloops North Thompson, and the Fraser Nicola. I certainly wasn't until a short time ago.

Kamloops of course is the largest city in the 3 ridings however there are dozens of smaller communities stretching from Manning Park near Hope in the South … over towards Pemberton in the West … up and over to Clinton and then to Blue River in the North ... and east out to Chase.

The greatest revenue driver to BC’s economy is the heartland where forestry and logging … ranching and agriculture … mining, gas, and other natural resources all rein supreme.  While some of them are in a downturn at the moment, we all know there are cycles that industry goes through and over the long haul our BC economy benefits from all of them. 

These are not the minimum paying jobs that seem to be the majority of what’s being created these days – they are the kinds of jobs that allow men and woman to renovate or build new homes, purchase new vehicles, create new businesses, send children to colleges and university, and more.

In the past 10 years many of these communities have seen government closing offices that provided important services to these communities.  Forestry Offices have been closed, as have employment services, highways facilities, hospitals, and more. 

On top of that we have the government through the land commission actually making it more difficult for farmers in the north to generate the income they need to continue operating by taking part time jobs in the gas industry … and we have a flawed government logic closing an important forestry research facility. 

And those are just a few instances where government through neglect, or insensitivity, is hurting those who live outside the main population centers.

Sometimes it makes sense to centralize or close services – BUT -- that needs to be tempered with attention to what rural BC needs to maintain a lifestyle that allows them to enjoy the smaller communities and areas they have grown up in, or chosen to live in.

The BC Conservative Party has said they believe in retaining our hospitals, schools and courthouses.  They have also said they believe that the social infrastructure of British Columbia’s heartland should be maintained for future generations.

That’s a good start … but more is needed.  Government needs to leave their offices in Victoria, and get out to places like Valemount, Pritchard, Logan Lake, Savona, Ashcroft and other rural communities and ask, “What can we do to help you create better communities, and help our economy grow”.

That’s only the first step … then they need to implement those ideas.