Tuesday August 11, 2020 ~ OTTAWA
by Mary Brooke, editor ~ West Shore Voice News
Members of Parliament are returning to Ottawa, gearing up for the fall session. There are two sitting days this month – August 12 and 26, and then the fall session gets rolling on September 21 through to December 11.
Today Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) returned to Ottawa after many months at home in Duncan with his family during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will be in Ottawa until Friday.
On Saturday, MacGregor will be back in Duncan, along with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, to visit local businesses and meet with mental health workers and addictions workers who are on the front lines of the opioid crisis, then visit the Duncan Farmers Market.
Travel journal:
The local MP — who has been busy with constituent concerns and hosting online town halls, and being proactive with the NDP position on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) — posted a “back in Ottawa” message on his Facebook page today:
“Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you know I’ve arrived safely in Ottawa and am on my way to the Hill office. I was really impressed with the safety protocols and mask-wearing in the airports and aircraft.I forgot how humid it is here!I have to say that seeing Parliament Hill on my way to work this morning completely lifted my spirits. There’s a steadfastness about it – a symbol of our democracy standing strong, even in the midst of a pandemic. It really is a beautiful place, and I’m glad to be back in-person for this week’s House of Commons meeting. Well, off I go to the office – hope everyone is having a great day!
Communities have come together during COVID:
Last week, MacGregor wrote to his constituents:
“While it’s certainly been a stranger summer than most, it has nonetheless been wonderful to see the ways in which communities across Cowichan-Malahat-Langford have come together.”
“At the federal level, my NDP colleagues and I continue to push for progressive policies, and we are doing our part to ensure that the Liberal government is accountable to Canadians. With Parliament due to reconvene in just over a month, now is the time to plan our nation’s progressive recovery strategies, and ensure that nobody is left behind in the months and years to come.”
Second term in office:
MacGregor is serving his second term of office as the Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford here on south Vancouver Island. He was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
Constituency offices:
Due to the vast geographical area of the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding, there are two constituency offices — one in Duncan and one in Langford. The offices have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic but staff and MP fully available by email and phone.
