Sunshine Coast MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones wants to hear what ideas locals have to foster clean economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change.
A public event called Democracy Talks: Climate Change Solutions from the Sunshine Coast is planned for Monday, July 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall, 5432 Xenichen Ave.
The first half of the session will feature opening comments by Goldsmith-Jones, a presentation by “expert panelists” about climate change, solar power and innovative building designs, and an audience question-and-answer period.
The second half of the evening will see participants divide into roundtable groups for further discussion and a brainstorming of ideas.
“The solutions-oriented discussion component of the event will be designed for group collaboration with a view to gather policy proposals and ideas that will inform Canada’s climate change policy,” a press release on the event stated.
Lucie McKiernan, constituency assistant for Goldsmith-Jones on the Sunshine Coast, said the MP is hoping for a good turnout as she believes it’s a topic of great local interest.
A similar session in Squamish saw residents bring up several concerns connected with the Woodfibre LNG project and requests for local meetings about the Kinder Morgan pipeline proposal. Residents at that meeting also expressed a desire to encourage green building practices and for improved wildfire strategies to help prevent tragedies like the recent Fort McMurray disaster.
“These public dialogues are being held across Canada during the summer months with the goal of influencing government climate change policy from the ground up,” McKiernan said.
Everyone is invited to the free event. Online pre-registration is requested via www.pgoldsmithjones.ca
