Kamloops MP asking constituents to sign petition calling for federal help on Red Bridge rebuild

“This is a really great way for people to speak through their Member of Parliament directly to the federal government,” Caputo said. “[Petitions] can be on any issue that relates to federal jurisdiction and those are the types of things that I want to speak up on because frankly, that’s my job.”

While the rebuilding of the Red Bridge is a provincial project, Caputo told CFJC Today he decided to draft and sent out the petition, noting he could not stand idly by.

“The federal government gets involved in provincial issues all the time,” Caputo added. “I mean, they doled out three billion dollars for condominiums that are going to be purchased for over a million dollars a piece. Some of that money, I think, should be coming to Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.”

While he only needs 25 signatures, Caputo hopes to get at least a thousand this summer as he says it’ll help show Ottawa how vital the Red Bridge project is to Kamloops. He plans to table the petition once the House of Commons resumes sitting in September.

“Then I can stand up in Parliament and ask the government – on behalf of the people of Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola – to actually put money forward and then the government has to table a response,” Caputo said. “I believe they have 45 days, so we’ll actually hear what the government has to say.”

“This is my way of kick-starting the conversation. This is a key, iconic landmark that should be rebuilt quicky. That’s what people from Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola are telling me and that’s what I’d like to see happen.”

Caputo’s petition is being welcomed by the City of Kamloops, as it will help with advocacy efforts that have been underway for the past two years.

“This is all hands on deck,” Deputy Kamloops Mayor Mike O’Reilly said. “It doesn’t matter what jurisdiction it is, this is incredibly important to everyone in Kamloops. To have now four levels of government advocating to the province saying ‘we need this bridge and we need it now’ is a very powerful statement.”

Those four levels include the local governments (Kamloops and Tkemlúps te Secwépemc), regional governments (Thompson-Nicola Regional District), the provincial government (Conservative Kamloops MLAs Peter Milobar and Ward Stamer) and the federal government (MPs Caputo and Mel Arnold).

“It’s almost unprecedented what’s happening right now on the lobbying efforts for the bridge and its incredibly important to everyone in the area,” O’Reilly added.

The B.C. Government is gathering feedback until June 26, and its asking people their thoughts on how to better transportation connections between the city and Tkemlúps te Secwépemc. The feedback will help inform the next steps of this process, with more information expected to be released this fall.

“We will continue to advocate independently ourselves, Tk’emlúps is advocating but we will do joint advocacy, as well,” O’Reilly said earlier this month. “That won’t stop until the bridge is built.”

This is not the first time that Caputo has spoken out in favour of a rebuilt Red Bridge. In April, he said he feels the federal government has a role to play, and he stands by that statement.

“I’m happy to speak with the Prime Minister about this. I’ve tried to reach out to the Minister of Infrastructure (Gregor Robertson) who is from B.C. on a number of occasions. This is something that should be on his radar and I would encourage him to earmark some money for this project.”

“I think the federal government has to tell us are they going to help out Tkemlúps te Secwépemc and the municipalities and the province in rebuilding this or not? My hope is that they’ll do the right thing and contribute some federal money.”

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops MP asking constituents to sign petition calling for federal help on Red Bridge rebuild

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