With the Canadian political landscape being such a battlefield of opinions, viewpoints and mud-slinging back and forth between the biggest figureheads in the game, perhaps it was more than a little refreshing for constituents in the Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek riding to get some one-on-one face time with Conservative MP Kelly Block this past week.
Block was embarking on her 2017 New Year Tour, which took her to the community of Dinsmore, Wiseton and Conquest this past Monday, January 16.
In recent weeks, Block has given a thumbs-up to launching an ethics investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as voicing her support for a fellow Saskatchewan politician in his bid for the federal Conservative Party leadership position.
The tour is Kelly鈥檚 chance to speak with people in her riding about the issues that are important to them. In a way, the stops in these smaller communities is her way to somewhat 鈥榬econnect鈥� with people and remind herself that there is no issue too big or too small for Canadians; in particular, Western Canadians in rural Saskatchewan who many feel are being forgotten about by the federal Liberal government.
In addition to people coming out to ask Block questions, she also wanted to pick the brains of constituents about a number of topics by way of a questionnaire. Those in attendance at locations on the tour were given a consultation that they were encouraged to fill out and mail in to Block. Questions asked included what they thought of the proposed carbon tax, what their concerns were about the roughly $30 billion deficit, investments that could be made to build stronger communities, and if they felt the Liberal government鈥檚 policies have improved or decreased their quality of life.
Though Monday was only Day One of the tour, Block was happy with how that morning鈥檚 four stops had gone.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gone very well,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e stopped in Wiseton, and there鈥檚 a small business there that has opened up a place to have coffee, not dissimilar to this community which opened up this facility. We also went to Dinsmore, and stopped in at Milden and did a tour of BridgePoint (Center for Eating Disorders); they had tweeted that they knew about my tour and were hoping I鈥檇 stop in, and we actually did a tour of the place. And then here in Conquest.鈥�
As expected, people were asking Block about the carbon tax proposal, as well as road issues in the rural parts of the province.
鈥淚n Dinsmore, the carbon tax came up many, many times,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 recall, about a year and half ago when I was here campaigning, the condition of the highways was an issue. So the carbon tax was one big thing they鈥檙e concerned about, and some folks were just glad to see that I was getting out into the community. It鈥檚 a chance to connect for me.鈥�
Kelly鈥檚 take on the Liberal government, after being in power for the past 15 months, is that they seem to have forgotten what powers Canada, giving them a low grade in their role thus far.
鈥淚 think their record speaks for itself,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e take a look at what鈥檚 being reported on a daily basis in terms of the ethical issues they鈥檙e dealing with, and certainly you look at the deficit that has gotten much bigger, and with the last forecast right around Christmas talking about where we鈥檙e going if we keep going this way. I don鈥檛 think they鈥檙e doing a great job at all, and they certainly seem to have forgotten some of the industries that drive our country鈥檚 economy.鈥�
One of the more interesting facets of Canadian politics being discussed right now is who will be vying for the role of the Conservative Party leader, with 鈥楧ragon鈥檚 Den鈥� celebrity and businessman Kevin O鈥橪eary possibly throwing his name into the ring. Block has decided to put her support behind someone who also calls Saskatchewan home.
鈥淲hat I will tell you is that I鈥檝e come out publicly and said that I鈥檓 supporting Andrew Scheer, who is a fellow Saskatchewanian,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a young Member of Parliament, he has a family, and we share a lot of the same values. He鈥檚 fluently bilingual and has represented a riding here in Saskatchewan for 14 years. He鈥檚 got my vote!鈥�
When it comes to where Conservatives stand on the carbon tax issue, Block says that they鈥檙e willing to join in the fight that Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been putting up against the proposal.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been very vocal, prior to the house rising in December, about the fact that we don鈥檛 support a carbon tax,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e know that some provinces within the country that do have some form of carbon pricing, but we think that needs to be left to the provinces to determine how they鈥檒l go about addressing the issue of greenhouse gas emissions. So we鈥檙e fighting right alongside Brad Wall on this issue, very much so.鈥�
For the long-time politician, the best thing about going out on these kind of tours is it gives Block a renewed sense of perspective on what鈥檚 affecting everyday Canadians and reminding herself that while she fights alongside the Conservatives on issues in Ottawa, there鈥檚 a way of life in rural Saskatchewan that needs to be protected and made to help prosper.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about connecting with the community and connecting with people,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen the house is sitting, you don鈥檛 get home often enough, and I love rural Saskatchewan; I lived here for twenty years before becoming a Member of Parliament, and I think there鈥檚 a quality of life here and a community spirit here that I like to connect with.鈥�
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