Dear Constituents, an update from my office:
Convoy Protest
On my way to the House of Commons yesterday, I spoke with Special Forces from the Ottawa and Toronto Police, who described the weekend as mostly peaceful, though there was a small group who were frankly very “bad apples”.
I was disgusted to see hateful symbols such as the swastika, and that memorials had been defaced, which is a federal crime. These actions are unacceptable, and I condemn them. My colleague MP Frank Caputo made a statement on this in the House of Commons, which you can view here. I spoke to Frank late Saturday night when he was drafting this statement and it’s worth a listen.
What I am seeing for the most part on the ground is a group of ordinary Canadians, from all walks of life, who are simply fed up with public health restrictions and feel they are not being heard. The National Post ran a piece yesterday, highlighting the diverse group of people attending the protest. I’ve taken the opportunity to speak with protestors on my morning walk to the office and share a similar sentiment.
Agriculture & Flood Recovery
Yesterday morning, I joined my colleagues Ed Fast and Dan Albas on the Agriculture Committee to question government officials on the business risk management program and supports for farmers who were impacted by the floods. You can view all of our testimony here.
My BC Conservative colleagues and I remain committed to securing the recovery support and disaster prevention infrastructure our province so desperately needs. Furthermore, I pressed the Liberal Government to deliver support to blueberry farmers in the House this morning, which you can view here.
Petition e-3771
I am proud to give my support for the citizen-driven Petition e-3771 calling for direct flight service from Vancouver or Toronto to Amritsar, Punjab. More than a million Canadians are of Punjabi descent, including a vibrant community here in Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon. Many of these people travel to Punjab each year to visit family, friends and religious sites, but are forced to fly to Delhi and travel hours by bus to reach their final destination. A direct flight to Amritsar would cut travel times drastically, and the market for such a flight certainly exists.
With over 11,000 signatures at the time of writing, this petition is quickly gaining steam! If you would like to add your name, you can do so here until February 11.
Today, I tabled 2 citizen-driven paper petitions in the House of Commons, one calling for action on the issue of human trafficking, and the other calling for an immediate evacuation of our allies that remain in Afghanistan.
Leadership Review Vote
Lastly, I want to address the news that a group of MPs in our caucus have submitted a letter calling for a review vote on Erin O’Toole’s leadership. Under section 49.5 of the of the Parliament of Canada Act, a vote to endorse or replace the leader must be held when 20% of caucus members sign a letter requesting such a vote.
I will refrain from commenting on the matter at this time, but I want you to know that I am actively reading your emails and I am taking your beliefs and viewpoints into thoughtful consideration as I prepare for this important and confidential vote.
You’re My Boss
Your feedback is valued. Please do not hesitate to contact my office to voice your concerns or seek assistance with any federal government programs at 604-814-5710 or [email protected].
Thank you,
Brad Vis, MP
Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon