Editor:
We welcome your paper’s coverage of the abandoned vessels issue and how I voted with MPs of other parties and against the Conservative MPs (Coast Reporter, May 22). The issue is important to a large number of your readers.
But in your second paragraph you wrote it was “a rare occurrence … but I decided to vote with my constituents.” Whether it was the words you used or the ones you left out, this left a clear and simply inaccurate impression. I always vote with my constituents’ interests in mind.
The challenge between voting with the party and alongside the various (often differing) views of my constituents is one I face regularly. As you related, I saw flaws in the bill. In this particular case, however, I voted for the bill if only to emphasize the importance of the issue to our constituents, who, for the most part, agree the issue demands a solution such as the one in the bill I’ll soon be introducing.
Context counts, and I’m afraid this was neglected in your piece.
John Weston, MP, West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country
