New Democrat Party (NDP) leader Adrian Dix has named Powell River - Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons as the shadow cabinet's Community Living B.C. (CLBC) critic and deputy social development and housing critic.
Simons said he is pleased with the appointment and will be working hard to make sure families get the support they need.
"It impacts every community in the province --- rich or poor, urban or rural, Aboriginals, new immigrants," Simons said. "The voice for people, for families, folks with developmental disabilities and their service providers, they now have somewhere to go if or when they have problems
"Previously, it was very difficult to get government to listen. They've created CLBC as a bit of an insulation layer between government decisions and people. It's a bit complicated. I'm just very pleased to have that critic portfolio."
In terms of local issues, Simons said there are many he is peripherally or deeply involved in. One he is focusing on is the increase of ferry fares.
"The rapid and unsustainable increases in ferry fares impact every business, every individual, every commuter on the Sunshine Coast and Powell River," he said. "Ferry fares are really the number one issue in the constituency right now."
Simons said he would be meeting with Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom next week.
With the federal election now over, Simons said he feels the results mean there is never a more important time for the provincial voice to be strong to ensure that people's views are heard.
He is elated NDP candidate Terry Platt came in second in the West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky riding, citing it was the first time an NDP candidate had done so.
"Everybody was a bit surprised by the strength of the NDP resurgence, I think. Some people would've liked to see a minority government. They were a bit worried about a Conservative agenda, which is really why I say that provincial representatives have to be vigilant to make sure that public polices develop in the broader public interest based on ideological ground," he said.
