Dear Constituents, an update from my office:
House of Commons Rises for the Summer
Last week, the House of Commons adjourned for the summer after an eventful start to 2022. Since January, we’ve witnessed a protest that engulfed downtown Ottawa for weeks, Budget 2022 was tabled, and the Liberal Government used time allocation an unprecedented number of times to advance their legislative agenda.
Last Tuesday, Bill C-11: Online Streaming Act passed the House of Commons with the support of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP. This is devastating news for the thousands of talented creators who bring Canadian content to international audiences and make a living doing so. It is also devastating news for the average Canadian who just wants the freedom to choose what they view and post online. At present, the Bill is before the Senate and was not passed prior to that Chamber rising for the summer.
Shortly after the House adjourned, I went live on my Facebook page with a brief update on the end of the session and some of the biggest issues I’m hearing from you heading into the summer. You can watch that here.
Medical Assistance in Dying Review
The Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) recently released their interim report on MAiD.
MAiD is a very sensitive subject and I know many of you have very strong feelings on both sides of this issue. I want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts on the review of MAiD legislation here.
In addition, take the time to read the relevant links and background information that I have provided before completing the survey.
Hearing From You
In my last email, I asked for your feedback on the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia to decriminalize possession of up to 2.5 grams of many illicit drugs, including fentanyl. In all, 246 people responded and I thank all of you who participated.
There are many varying opinions on this subject, and that was reflected in the results of this survey. While the majority of respondents (67.89%) are opposed to the Agreement, nearly half those respondents (31.3%) indicated they would be open to decriminalization once sufficient treatment and recovery options are made available.
When it comes to treatment and recovery services, residential/live-in treatment centres, withdrawal management centres, and post-recovery care were highlighted the most by respondents as programs that should be given greater support.
Disturbingly, just 16.39% of respondents reported having never discovered drug paraphernalia in public spaces and nearly 60% reported that finding used needles and other paraphernalia is at least a somewhat common occurrence.
I have recently updated my website to include the compiled results from my recent surveys on a wide range of issues. I am pleased to begin sharing this data with you once again and will be updating this page regularly.
Something Not Political
One of my favourite weekly activities is catching a bird’s eye view of Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon from the plane. Here is a photo of the northern part of Harrison Lake. I always like to point out that Port Douglas was once the capital of the province!
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]. I also encourage you to follow me on Facebook where I post more frequent updates on my work as your MP.
Thank you,
Brad Vis, MP
Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon