Friday July 9, 2021 | ESQUIMALT-SAANICH-SOOKE
GUEST COMMENTARY | by Randall Garrison, MP (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke)
Published by Island Social Trends
As the parliamentary session comes to an end, I am reflecting on what it means to represent the people of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. I am proud of the work that my NDP colleagues and I were able to do in parliament this year, and I am eager to continue to work to improve the lives of Canadians. This has been a challenging year for everyone, and I have never been prouder of the resilience and solidarity of the people I represent.
With the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools reverberating, I am renewing my calls for the Federal Government to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, especially those that call directly for the Federal Government to fully fund searches and the return of remains. Despite the fact that the TRC clearly indicated the existence of thousands of unmarked graves at residential schools across Canada when it was released in 2015, the most recent searches have been funded by First Nations. As Indigenous people grapple with the trauma and loss inflicted by genocidal policies like residential schools, we must move beyond the symbolic and provide action and reparations.
This year, COVID-19 has continued to cause multiple challenges for my constituents. I have heard from many of those who were worried about the CERB or other benefits ending before they could return to work in your industry. I have heard from others who are navigating border closures and other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I am proud to have worked hard to press the Liberal Government to extend the CERB, ensuring that my constituents who work in heavily affected sectors like tourism and hospitality can be kept whole during this challenging time. I will continue to advocate for the measures we need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and support for Canadians who cannot work or are otherwise struggling.
As wildfires rage in the BC interior and we deal with the impacts of late June’s deadly heat wave on Southern Vancouver Island, it is clearer than ever that we must take swift and decisive action to reduce our GHG emissions. I will continue to press for the federal government to end all fossil fuel subsidies and reinvest in renewables through a crown corporation, among other measures to reduce our emissions and build resilience for extreme weather events.
With the end of session come increasing rumors that the Liberal Government will call an election before the fall session convenes. New Democrats have worked hard to improve the lives of Canadians during COVID-19 while working across party lines to ensure that parliament functions, and we do not believe that Canadians want an election less than two years into the current mandate, during a pandemic. We are also concerned that important legislation like Bill C-6, a ban on conversion therapy, would die with the election call.
This summer, I am looking forward to spending more time in our community meeting with constituents, as BC’s reopening plan continues to move forward.
===== About Randall Garrison:
Randall Garrison has been the Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke since 2011 (re-elected in 2015 and 2019).
Garrison was instrumental in having the name of the riding renamed to include the name Sooke, prior to the 2015 federal election.
The riding of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke covers a variety of community needs and interests on south Vancouver Island within five full municipalities (Esquimalt, Metchosin, Sooke, Colwood and View Royal), as well as part of the District of Saanich (from around Blanshard and Quadra to Cook Street and including the Gorge area), and Esquimalt Indian Reserve, New Songhees Indian Reserve No. 1A, T’Sou-ke Indian Reserve and Becher Bay Indian Reserve No. 1.
In the House of Commons Randall Garrison has served Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the Standing Committee on National Defence, and Executive Committees for Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, and the Canadian Group of Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Within the NDP caucus Randall Garrison as the NDP LGBTQ2+ spokesperson has fought to build a more inclusive Canada with regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. As the previous NDP Critic on National Defence, he worked to ensure Canadian Forces members have the training, equipment, and support they need to defend Canada and promote peace.
Garrison gets out and about in the various communities that he serves. He lives in Colwood.
===== ARTICLES about RANDALL GARRISON, MP (articles by Island Social Trends)
- Randall Garrison guns for 4th term (February 10, 2021)
- Garrison introduces bill on domestic abuse (October 8, 2020)
- Garrison & MacGregor vote in favour of extended COVID-19 measures (September 29, 2020)
- Randall Garrison MP supporting businesses, workers & families (September 8, 2020)
- Randall Garrison: democracy has continued to function well during COVID-19 crisis (May 20, 2020)
- Justice, Defence, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity critic roles for Randall Garrison MP (November 28, 2019)
- Incumbent Randall Garrison voted in Colwood on Thanksgiving (October 13, 2019)
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