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Strahl discusses environment, pipelines, RCMP with constituents

On June 10, Strahl visited Hope to discuss issues.
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Mark Strahl talks to a full room at the Blue Moose Coffee House last Saturday morning. (Greg Laychak photo)

Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl came to Hope to speak to his constituents on June 10 at the Blue Moose Coffee House.

Strahl discussed multiple topics with the attendees, including the environment, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, altering O Canada and RCMP contract negotiation. Chilliwack residents also attended this Coffee Connections meeting.

On the environment, attendees discussed the federal carbon tax and Paris Accord. Strahl said he noticed that the room had split opinions on these two items.

“There were people on both sides of that issue there, which was also makes for an interesting meeting,” said Strahl.

Strahl said that the position of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) remains the same, even with its new leader Andrew Scheer.

The CPC opposes the carbon tax because they do not think it will fulfill its objectives and “kills jobs.” They will repeal the carbon taxes if they are elected.

On the Paris Accord, some attendees believe that the agreement to mitigate global warming amounts to a “feel good” agreement, while others feel that this represents a common goal for nations. Strahl said the CPC supports the overall idea of an agreement that would include all major emitters. Strahl said that the CPC felt concerned at other accords such as the Kyoto Accord, which had punitive measures but did not include all major emitters like China, India and the United States.

“We thought this was a good step forward, we disagree with the government on how to reach the targets, [but] as an overall thing, Canada should be at the table when these things are discussed,” said Strahl.

Much of the discussion about Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline centred about the route in Chilliwack. On the one hand, some argued that the pipeline has run through that area without incident and that concerns “are overblown.”

Others argued that the pipelines need route adjustments, especially in Chilliwack where the pipeline would run through an aquifer. Strahl said many Chilliwack residents want the pipeline to go around the aquifer. Strahl conducted a discussion on how that would look like and how the National Energy Board might consider that.

“There are difficulties that come with that and that the company has done detailed analysis on that route,” said Strahl. “They already have rights-of-way on it. They have [on Monday] released a five-page letter outlining how they can do it safely, but the challenge for the people that want change is they don’t have the resources to detailed analysis of their proposed route.

“I don’t think anyone’s done the geological, hydrological engineering studies that are required to actually propose a new route, nor have the landowners or affected parties along that proposed new route have been consulted at all during this process.

“It’s something that merits further consideration, I think, but it’s not a simple as drawing a new line on a map.”

The pipeline in Hope stirred up some discussion too. Strahl said he had lunch with Mayor Wilfried Vicktor and he mentioned a couple of changes that residents would like to see, such as moving it away from the Nestlé Waters wells.

With discussion about making O Canada gender neutral, Strahl said that his constituents do not want the change “overwhelmingly.” He said the problem came from the Liberal government’s lack of consultation.

“In fact, they went out of their way to make sure the debate was very limited. There [were] next to no witnesses in that committee,” said Strahl. “It was rushed through to try to get it past before the mover of the private member’s bill, Mauril Bélanger, … passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease.”

Strahl said that most people he heard from would rather have the lyrics stay the same, including women.

“They prefer the current wording, that they don’t feel excluded by it,” said Strahl.

Members of the RCMP are negotiating for a new contract, and according to Strahl, they feel frustrated that process has stalled and that the compensation package, equipment and support is much lower than a non-RCMP police force, adding that this leads to a brain drain from RCMP to cities.

However, increases in RCMP costs also means an increase in taxes. Asked how Strahl will balance these interests, Strahl said he never begrudged money spent on public safety.

“Whenever people need the RCMP and find themselves in need of police services, they certainly don’t worry about their tax bill at that time, so I think the cost of policing goes up and up as they have to improve their training and equipment to combat [crime], so policing is not cheap and never will be,” said Strahl.

- with files from Greg Laychak, Black Press.