Hello Mission – Matsqui – Fraser Canyon,

It’s been a blessing to spend some time at home working and meeting with constituents across the riding over the past two weeks. These moments are enriching, as they allow me to stay connected with the incredible communities of Mission – Matsqui – Fraser Canyon.

I have been encouraged by many in the riding to spend more time learning and being on the Fraser River. I did exactly that last week when I spent the day with Dean Werk of Great River Fishing Adventures fishing for chum and watching the bald eagles.

This trip marked my first experience fishing chum as an adult, providing an opportunity to discuss sustainable recreational fishing and ecological preservation. We caught four impressive fish, utilizing each thoughtfully: freezing one, making chowder with another, canning the third, and gifting the fourth.

This trip included a random stop by a B.C. Conservation Officer, verifying my day license, and interaction with Fisheries and Oceans Canada researchers counting deceased tagged chinook and chum. We also witnessed local First Nation fishing practices as some of the bands were out with their drift nets that day.

Every passionate and knowledgeable environmentalist, angler, and First Nation leader have shared the same message with me: there is a disconnect between Ottawa’s decision making and what takes place on the river. Moving forward, I know I have more to do more in raising these important matters and working to sustain the Indigenous and recreational fishery on the water.

Remembrance Day Reflections

This year, I had the honour of attending Remembrance Day events within riding. As always, it’s a privilege to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served and continue to serve to and protect our freedoms.

The day before Remembrance Day, I visited the Lytton First Nation and attended their Remembrance Day dinner following the Remembrance Day Pow-Wow. I want to extend my thanks to Pepsi Charlie and all the volunteers that make the annual Remembrance Day Pow-Wow Dinner a massive success.

On Remembrance Day, I joined the Lillooet community for a moving ceremony. It was inspiring to see so many turn out to honour and remember those who gave so much for our freedom. Lest we forget.

Meanwhile, my staff participated in the Remembrance Day ceremony in Mission, BC. It was a poignant moment to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of our veterans.

Out in the Community

My team had the opportunity to attend the Annual General Meeting for the Harrison-Agassiz Chamber of Commerce. It was inspiring to see local businesses come together, celebrating their achievements, and looking ahead to new ideas and strategies to strengthen our communities.

I had the opportunity to attend the Lets’emot Community to Community Forum (C2C) in partnership with local Indigenous leaders from the Upper Fraser Valley. This event brought together leadership from the Cheam First Nation, Seabird Island Band, Sq'éwlets First Nation, Stó:lō Tribal Council, Sts'ailes Nation, the District of Kent, and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs to discuss issues of concern like highways and roads.. It was great work alongside such dedicated leaders who are making real progress in improving quality of life in our region in areas of joint concern.

Ravine Park Salmonid Enhancement Society

 

Recently, my staff participated in an important project with the Ravine Park Salmonid Enhancement Society and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Wild coho eggs from Stoney Creek are a critical part of our ongoing efforts to support the local salmon population. This marks the second year they successfully harvested eggs from wild creeks, a process that greatly enhances hatchery success. I’ve been involved in similar programs in the past, and it’s rewarding to see such vital initiatives continue to thrive while engaging local schools.

Visit to Columbia Bible College

I was honoured to speak to an economics class at Columbia Bible College last Thursday. We discussed different economic approaches, with practical examples from Canada. It’s vital for Canadians—especially the next generation—to understand how government policies impact our economy and our future.

Celebrating Local Excellence

It was a pleasure to attend the 28th Annual Abbotsford Business Excellence Awards, hosted by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. The twelve deserving winners exemplify the hard work and innovation that make our communities stronger. Congratulations to the following winners:

• Home-Based Business Excellence: Boost Body Sugaring
• Tourism Excellence: The Agora & Apothecary at Tanglebank Estate
• Manufacturing & Production Excellence: StructureCraft
• Agricultural & Agri-Business Excellence: Valley Select Foods
• Consumer Services Excellence: Wheelchair Works
• Indigenous Business of the Year: Northern Connections Contracting Ltd.
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Sonia Gulati (Veerji’s Haweli)
• Non-Profit Organization of the Year: Fraser Valley Métis Association
• Business of Doing Good: Richard Meyer Electrical Services Ltd.
• New Business of the Year: Frontline Driving School Ltd.
• Established Business of the Year: Symbiosis Pediatric Therapy Inc.
• Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award: Chelsey Loates (Haila)

Lights by the Lake 

This past weekend I attended the Lights by the Lake opening ceremony in Harrison Hot Springs. This event turned Harrison's waterfront into a stunning winter wonderland featuring local performances, festive activities, and an amazing fireworks display! Thank you to Sts'ailes First Nation for kicking off the event, for tourism Harrison for being such amazing hosts and for all the visitors for supporting our local economy! 

Parliament Still Paralyzed

It’s been another two weeks since my last email blast and Parliament is still paralyzed. This delay is because the government is refusing to table seven years’ worth of records related to the Sustainable Development Technologies Canada (SDTC) organization within 30 days. The organization, which has since been defunded, was a federal program which was found by the Auditor General of Canada to have broken conflict of interest rule and made significant lapses in managing public funds. At issue is the Auditor General’s finding that Liberal appointees gave $400 million tax dollars to their own companies, involving 186 conflicts of interest. Here’s the report.

In the spring, I addressed the damning report released by the Auditor General, which revealed that $123 million had been misappropriated by the board of the SDTC. A month ago, I spoke on a privilege motion calling on the government to provide the relevant documents. And a few weeks ago, I spoke again in the house discussing a sub-amendment to the privilege motion. Canadians have had enough. As Parliamentarians, we must stand up for Canadians and ensure they have the information needed to make informed decisions. Please click here to watch the entire speech.

The freezing of Parliament hasn’t stopped the government from making changes that impact Canadians. We know a deal is in the works with the NDP and the Liberals. Last week, Trudeau announced he’s scrapping GST on some goods during the holiday season. The reality is this will only burden Canadians six weeks later. After this “relief” is up, the Liberals plan to hike the carbon tax by 19% on April 1, while cutting the carbon rebate to small firms by nearly half. 

Please click here to fill out this week’s survey on the governments’ announcements to scrap GST on some goods for the holiday season and "handing out" $250 rebates to working Canadians.

Food Delivery Services Survey

Do you own or manage a restaurant? As the Shadow Minister for Small Business Recovery and Growth, I want to hear from you about your experience using food delivery services like Uber Eats, SkiptheDishes, Foodora, DoorDash, etc. Here’s a link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73Z9QFZ

Survey Results

In my last newsletter, I was inspired by an article that I read in the Globe and Mail this week titled “From diapers to inheritances, having a third child is both an emotional and financial decision.” My survey questions focused on the cost of having children and hearing your thoughts on what you think the government needs to do to support growing families.

Thank you for taking the time to respond, here are the results:

 

The final question I asked was “How can the government do more to address the rising costs of housing, food, and childcare for growing families?” One of you highlighted the closure of local businesses, like 4Cats studios, after tax credits for kids’ activities were cut, suggesting the need for such programs to support small businesses. Others call for tax cuts, higher minimum wages, and measures to control inflation and food waste. Complaints also focused on the volatility of gas prices, with accusations of corporate greed and government complicity. Lastly, there was a call to stop government incentives for childcare, advocating for parents to take on the responsibility themselves.

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

 

Brad Vis, MP
https://www.bradvis.ca/