It’s time for some stability in a time of upheaval and confusion.
For the last few years it has felt like, even here in our small corner of the Earth, that we are facing society-altering paradigms. I think you would agree, Patrick Weiler, our newly re-elected Liberal MP for Whistler.
(And if the mail-in ballots being counted as Pique goes to press elect Conservative John Weston, my “Opening Remarks” would be no different.)
In early 2020 it was as if the earth moved under our feet as we came face to face with a global threat that killed people we knew, right here in front of us.
Of course climate change was killing people too, as were toxic drugs and racism, but somehow we had managed (and are still managing) to compartmentalize these threats.
But the COVID-19 pandemic could not be put in a box on a shelf to be dealt with later, or by someone else.
Everyone has to be part of the solution, and leading us through this ongoing global threat is the work of good government.
You have been elected to look after the interests of the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding and we expect a lot from you in this time of change.
On Sept. 17, the community recognized Dr. Karin Kausky as our Citizen of the Year at the Whistler Chamber Excellence Awards, and this should surely be seen as recognition of the amazing work she and our healthcare workers have done in the last 18 months and more.
But looking at our healthcare system, it is clear that it needs more than just the lens of a pandemic on it. Here in Whistler it is almost impossible to get a family doctor—we need more physicians. That means the government needs to look at the structure of family practice, which runs as a fee-for-service model. Many doctors don’t want to run a small business to practice medicine, and this fact is making the choice of pursuing family medicine less attractive.
Whistler residents are deeply concerned about climate change. Unlike many urban dwellers, for many of us, the very existence of this resort relies on our environment offering the type of experiences visitors and residents alike want to enjoy.
Not only is our snowline and season length going to change in the coming years, we now spend every summer under the threat of wildfire. At this point it feels more like a “when” not an “if” on the wildfire front.
Locally we can all bring reusable bags to the grocery store, but the reality is the dial can only be moved significantly on the climate emergency at the government level. And we need our government to act globally. What can be done to address China’s plan for rapid-build coal fire plants, for example?
As a tourism destination we need to know you are keeping our borders open when appropriate, and we need the industry that supports us to be recognized and funded.
Part of that equation is working with us on regulations that allow Whistler to access workers from across the nation and around the world. We don’t need roadblocks, we need solutions.
Many are very nervous about the rising cost of living in the Sea to Sky corridor. Affordability, working on housing solutions and supporting local businesses are top of mind for us.
And like a bothersome storm cloud, dealing with the COVID-19 virus, and all its variants stretching out in front of us across the years, colours every action we take.
I hope you can forgive us if cynicism creeps into our outlook on the solutions on offer so far. After all, it is easy for a political party to promise the world and then renege after an election—we’ve seen that movie before.
And feeling like we are experiencing a Groundhog Day moment is hardly surprising given your Liberal party called a $610-million election and nothing changed in the governance model except you have been forced to shuffle your cabinet.
(Hmm, that $610 million sure could have helped introduce universal childcare.)
So please, keep on being the “hardest working” MP this riding has ever seen, hold your leader to account and work with our other political parties to address the issues that keep Canadians up at night.
No pressure, but we are watching and hoping for the best for Whistler and Canada.
