It was billed as a public meeting on seniors’ issues, but MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones heard about a host of other concerns during a Sept. 1 event in Sechelt.
The Liberal member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country ended up fielding questions from constituents on the environment, fisheries policy, derelict vessels, and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of former American citizens in Canada over back-taxes.
The seniors’ issues came up first, and a lot of them were tied to housing and long-term care, including whether the federal government has any influence over Vancouver Coastal Health’s controversial plan for changes on the Sunshine Coast.
“Money flows based on agreements with the provinces,” Goldsmith-Jones said. “But we don’t have any ability to change what is a statutorily recognized position of the provincial government.” She also said it would be “acting in bad faith” to threaten to hold up federal health care dollars based on public opposition to a particular project.
The hot real estate market, and its effects on housing affordability, was also highlighted as a big worry for seniors.
Goldsmith-Jones was asked at one point if the Liberal government was interested in getting more directly involved in affordable housing – a role previous federal governments have backed away from.
“We are dedicated to a renewed and more activist role for CHMC [Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation]. That is definitely part of our thinking,” she responded. She also noted that encouraging a good mix of development was up to local governments to manage.
The MP was also canvassed on her views about two emerging medical issues: physician-assisted dying and access to marijuana.
Goldsmith-Jones said there needs to be a continuing, open dialogue on physician-assisted dying and defended her government’s decision not to follow all the recommendations of the parliamentary committee that studied the issue. She said although British Columbians seemed ready to embrace a “very progressive” approach, the country as a whole “needs a little more time.”
On marijuana, Goldsmith-Jones promised to work closely with local governments as Ottawa refines its new law.
“There’s a distinct difference between our government and what went before,” she said. “We are trying our best to write good legislation. We’re not trying to shut things down and say, ‘so sue me.’”
Goldsmith-Jones went on to host a meeting on electoral reform that evening, but the issue also came up at the seniors’ issues session.
Several MPs have been holding forums over the summer break, with the aim of gathering ideas from constituents for the special committee on electoral reform. It was set up by the government in June and is supposed to report back by Dec. 1.
When asked about the issue, Goldsmith-Jones said election rules are always evolving, and she thinks as long as people are given enough time to learn the ins and outs of any new system, they’ll likely embrace it, leading to stronger voter turnouts.
She also acknowledged the debate around whether to hold a referendum.
“Some have said the referendum on this was actually the [Oct. 19] election itself, where all the parties except for the Conservatives committed to reform,” she said, adding that some countries have used the approach of trying a different voting system, then holding a referendum to decide whether to keep it.
