By Dylana Milobar

MP McLeod looking towards work planned for 2019

Dec 30, 2018 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — Cathy McLeod, who will be running for re-election as the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo’s Member of Parliament, says there are two issues that stick out in her mind when thinking of where she would like to see movement in her riding for 2019.

“Locally some of the biggest issues that we have to deal with of course is the Trans Mountain Pipeline, and the issues around the pipeline,” McLeod explains, “I’m obviously very supportive of this pipeline and think its important for Kamloops, and for the riding to see this one come through.”

On top of the Kinder Morgan venture, McLeod says she would like to see something done with the old Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Station in Brocklehurst. 

The facility was closed by the Conservative government back in 2013 to cut down on costs.

“Its been a number of years now, they promised to move quickly on that, and its still just sitting in limbo,” She explains, “Its a really important piece of property, I know some of the First Nations communities are really interested in it, as are others, and we need to see a future for that piece of property.”

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The Official Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs says she plans to remain committed to keeping the pressure on to get something done in 2019.

“There is a process that the government has to go through as it look at treaty and right holders. But its taking far too long for the work to get done.”

Reflecting on how the past year, and previous years in office have been for her, McLeod says she will continue to do the absolute best she can for her riding’s residents.

Cathy was first elected to the House of Commons in October 2008 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2015 for the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding.

“It was quite surprising when I was first elected, a number of years ago, the number of issues that come up. Whether its Canada Revenue Agency (problems), immigration, people having challenges in other countries.”

Moving forward, McLeod says the next federal campaign will tackle current concerns around the direction the federal Liberals are taking Canada.

“Certainly from an Ottawa perspective, I continue to have concerns in a number of fields in terms of where the current government is going. And certainly it will be our job to put forward a vision in the 2019 campaign that will appeal both to people in the riding, and people across the country.”

Acknowledging how tough campaigns can get, McLeod hopes this run will stay focused on the important issues.

“Its going to be run on issues like, is this deficit important, is a balanced budget important, are Canadians okay with the amount of money the government is spending, how do they feel in terms of immigration? We have people from the upper New York State just walking across, and really jumping queue in terms of who are the real refugees.”

McLeod also knows the energy industry is going to be a critical part of this next election.

“There’s been a number of moves this government has taken that have really sort of squashed our ability as Canadians getting our resources to market,” She explains, “So there is going to be some really key decisions in terms of, do Canadians support Canada and its energy industry, or do they support the moves that the government has made in terms of putting a halt to it?”