Following a success meeting in Powell River Feb. 8, Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons will host a meeting in Sechelt open to seniors to discuss the DriveABLE program.
The information meeting is set for Friday, March 9 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Sechelt Seniors Centre and will be co-sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens (COSCO-B.C.).
Local MP pushes Pacific Rim
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country member of Parliament John Weston, following up on requests from constituents, hosted a roundtable discussion on Feb. 22 with several municipal leaders and Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway, recently returned from China with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"An important part of my mandate is actively to shrink the distance between our constituents and the major decision-makers in Ottawa," said Weston when asked about the purpose of this meeting, "as well as to build a collaborative approach for success among the leaders and stakeholders in our riding."
During his opening comments, Fast emphasized the importance of foreign trade to Canada's economy as a priority for the Harper Government to achieve long-term prosperity for Canadians. He spoke of the nine free trade agreements Canada has successfully negotiated, and many more currently underway, including the European Union and India, two of the largest markets in the world.
Also on hand for the discussion were members of the Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce as well as Chief Garry Feschuk of the Sechelt Indian Band.
Relating the Prime Minister Harper's efforts in China to local issues, Fast said that Harper and China's Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the signing of new joint initiatives between the two countries, as well as the renewal of existing ones, in the areas of energy, the sustainable development of natural resources, education, science and technology, and agriculture.
Feschuk encouraged Fast to be engaged more broadly with First Nations leaders. The Minister welcomed the invitation and likewise encouraged Feschuk to take leadership in facilitating such a dialogue.
