Dear editor,
I am writing this letter to you, as this is the first federal election to be held since I completed my terms as mayor of Comox.
As you can well understand, when you are serving on a municipal council, you must distance yourself from both federal and provincial elections, as ultimately your municipality must ask for support from whoever gets elected.
This has been the case, but I am out of politics (for now), and feel I should express my thoughts on the upcoming election.
During my time as mayor, we had both the Liberals and Conservatives forming the government. I had the privilege of working with Catherine Bell (NDP) who was great and worked hard for the citizens of the North Island. She represented the Valley well, but as a municipal leader, I saw very little in the way of funding and support from Ottawa during the time she served as our MP. Following Catherine, John Duncan was elected our MP and the difference was shocking. We began to see federal funds coming to the Valley. These funds were were not just for infrastructure projects which were so badly needed, and helped a number of local contractors weather the recession, but also to other projects which benefited thousands in the Valley.
Some of the other items funded included, LUSH Valley Food Action, Comox Valley Economic Development Society for the Coast Discovery Centre, new construction at NIC, renovations at the Native Sons Hall, Sid Williams Theatre Society, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Arden trunk sewer, trades training centre at NIC, Natural Pastures Cheese, Shelter Point Farms, Mountain Sports Centre, and Hospice Society to name but a few.
As can be seen, this is a cross-section of our community, and what we can see will benefit a large number of people in the Valley.
The point that I am trying to make is that, if we elect an MP who is a member of the party in power, we can benefit from it, and we will truly have a voice in what is happening in Ottawa.
I do not agree with everything that the Conservatives are doing, but I have watched them over the past few years, and with the election I see them sticking to the budget they presented in March and not promising the world, just to win an election.
My vote is going to the Conservatives, as I appreciate the way my country has been governed under their leadership, and I would like to see it continue down this path.
Jim Brass,
Comox