The Strathcona Standard

 Around 200 people took the opportunity last night to question their Member of Parliament about what he’s doing for the North Island-Powell River riding.  

 One of the half-gyms at the Sportsplex in Willow Point was standing room only by the time Aaron Gunn opened the meeting, with approximately 200 people gathered to hear what he had to say.  

  Gunn opened with comments about the social contract, the idea that citizens agree to accept the authority of the state, and in exchange the state provides services and protections to citizens. He said that contract is on shaky ground these days.

  “Something is not adding up right now in Canada and I think a lot of people feel it,” he said, pointing out the rise in public disorder, street crime, and declining trust in government. “This is not some anomaly, something that happens out of the blue. This is a trend in the country.”

  He used a recent example of a violent offender being released on to BC streets.  

  “This is unacceptable, it’s unfair, and I don’t think it should be the new normal,” he said.  

  Gunn reinforced his past statements and election promises to restore penalties for violent offenders, and to protect citizens from criminals.  

  “I think it’s time we started putting actual law-abiding citizens in this country first,” he said, to hearty applause from the audience.  

  Gunn also spoke about how there are few opportunities for youth in his riding, thanks to declining industry, government policies, and unaffordable housing costs. He said that could be reversed with sound economic policies which allow local industries to grow, creating high-paying careers for local young people.  

  After his opening statements Gunn fielded questions from the audience, which were written down and chosen in a random draw. There were questions about how Canada should react to the latest statements from US President Donald Trump, what to do about Members of Parliament who cross the floor to join another party, and Canada’s relationship with Israel. 

  Gunn managed to bring most questions back to his key points. One of his main answers to economic questions was that Canada needs to be more self-sufficient.  

  “It’s most important to start building things in Canada again, and not rely so much on other countries,” he said.  

  At the same time Canada needs to be realistic, he said – the US market is inextricably linked with ours whether we like it or not, so we need to make peace with that reality while also looking to diversify trade with other nations that want Canadian products.  

  Gunn said the North Island and Powell River region needs to defend its industries and be proud of how they are world-class, setting the standard for other industries around the world. That’s why, he said, Canada should stop trying to force all people and businesses who rely on the coastline to comply with UN standards developed for third-world nations with little or no regulations at all. We should have our own plans for protecting marine areas in BC, instead of copy-pasting from the UN, he said.  

  Gunn also talked about the rising costs of living squeezing everyone, especially seniors and people on fixed incomes. The best way to fix that is to make the economy healthy again, creating a rising tide to lift all boats, he said, paraphrasing Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Ellis Ross and his vision of a healthy economy as the most meaningful and effective way to achieve reconciliation with BC’s Indigenous peoples.  

  Last year during the election campaign, Gunn’s public meetings were targeted by protesters and agitators associated with the federal NDP. At last night’s event, despite a few hostile questions submitted by individuals in the audience, there were no disruptions. Security guards were present to maintain order.  

  Gunn held a town hall meeting in the Comox Valley on February 17. Next month, on Monday, March 16, Gunn will host a meeting in Port McNeill at the Community Hall, and a meeting in Powell River on Thursday, March 19, at St. Joseph’s Hall. Both events start at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.