Dear Constituents, an update from my office:
In the House
Last week in Ottawa, my Conservative colleagues and I were squarely focused on one thing – stopping the 23% carbon tax hike that is coming on April 1st. While the NDP and Bloc backed the Liberal government in keeping the hike, we’re still calling on Premier Eby to do the right thing by standing up to the federal government and refusing to hike the tax here in BC.
On Monday, I tabled a motion at the Industry Committee calling for a study into the effects the carbon tax has had on small businesses – the federal government still owes them over $2.5 billion in promised rebates by the way! It also called for a freeze of the carbon tax to give small businesses, and all Canadians, a desperately needed break from the rising cost of living and doing business. Frustratingly, my motion was defeated.
On Tuesday, I had the chance to ask the finance minister why the government has yet to return the $2.5 billion owed to small businesses or the more than $1 billion owed to Indigenous and Metis communities in carbon tax rebates. She dismissed my concerns because I am a BC MP, and our carbon tax is collected by the provincial government. The Minister missed a key issue, however – the Province of British Columbia is legally obligated to increase its carbon tax in line with the federal tax increase.
Are you worried about the upcoming 23% carbon tax hike? Let me know by filling out my survey here.
I also had an opportunity on Tuesday to table petitions on:
- restoring passenger rail service to Lillooet;
- cancelling the Prison Needle Exchange Program; and
- securing funding for the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre.
If you would like to sponsor a petition on an issue that is important to you, please reach out to my office. My staff are here to assist you!
Abbotsford Plasma Centre Anniversary
Last April, Canadian Blood Services opened the Abbotsford Plasma Centre, which has had an incredible amount of support from our community. As they prepare to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the facility, Canadian Blood Services has asked me to share this message with you:
The Canadian Blood Services, Abbotsford Plasma Centre will soon proudly be celebrating its first anniversary. We have been fortunate and grateful for the immense amount of support we have received from our community and donors in our first year of operation.
We would like to extend an invitation for you to join our all-week celebration from Tuesday April 2nd to Saturday April 6th and consider donating plasma during your visit. We will welcome you with a red-carpet, delicious baking items, and a photo booth for our supporters to create memories on the achievements of our community this past year.
We are looking forward to welcoming you, your friends, family, colleagues, neighbors and community. We sincerely appreciate your support for our new Plasma Lifeline and Canadian Blood Services Plasma Centre in Abbotsford.
Appointments can be booked at blood.ca, through the GiveBlood App, or by calling 1-888-2DONATE.
In the Riding
Earlier this month, I joined my colleague Mel Arnold in his Interior BC riding of North Okanagan—Shuswap to meet with local chambers of commerce and hear the challenges facing small businesses in their communities. The concerns I heard are the same I hear in Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon and across the country – taxes and interest rates are too high, skilled labour is challenging to find and retain, and red tape is holding businesses back.
During that trip, I met with local officials and administrators in Cache Creek to get an update on the work being done on the highway and disaster mitigation & recovery. While there is still lots of work to be done, I am pleased that some progress has been made on flood mitigation and management. I am pushing DFO to remove the broken trailer from the Bonaparte River.
I also made a stop in Lytton to meet with the Lytton Chamber of Commerce for a much-needed update on the community’s recovery. After 2.5 years, some homes are finally being approved for construction and business applications are slowly moving forward. This has taken far too long; I will continue to push PacifiCan and other government agencies for better results.
On March 12, I stopped by the Abbotsford Rotary Club to provide an update on my work in Ottawa. We discussed disaster relief and recovery, the decriminalization of illicit drugs in BC, and the current state of small business in Canada. Always great to catch up with old friends at the Rotary Club!
A couple of weeks ago I stopped by Homestead Cider in Agassiz to try some of their amazing cider, produced with locally grown ingredients. They open for the season this weekend, so be sure to stop by if you’re in the area!
I recently joined my colleagues Ed Fast, Tako Van Popta and Shadow Minister of Agriculture John Barlow to check out Vitalus, a dairy processor in Abbotsford that turns locally produced milk into specialty proteins and butter. Supporting major food projects like those of Vitalus means supporting our local dairy farmers, bolstering food security, and lowering grocery bills for Canadians.
This past weekend I joined the United Truckers Association of BC to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Our truckers work long hours and often travel through dangerous conditions to ensure our goods get to store shelves.
Hearing From You
In my last update, I asked how the cost of living is impacting you and your family. In total, 110 people filled out the survey; thank you for the feedback! Please see the full results below.
This week, I want to hear your thoughts on the April 1st carbon tax hike. Let me know by filling out my survey here.
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, X (Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, where I post more frequent updates on my work as your MP.
Thank you,
Brad Vis, MP
Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon