Zimmer Meets Trump’s Transition Team
Prince George, B.C. – Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies Conservative MP Bob Zimmer is fresh back from a trip to Washington DC where he met with senior members of President Donald Trump’s new administration.
He said his goal was to re-establish relationships with members of congress and senators in Trump’s transition team to help ensure the Canada/US trade relationship remains strong.
Of note was a chance meeting he had with recently confirmed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer
“Rex was sitting at a table over from me and I’d noticed that and so I wanted to talk to him and thank him for Keystone and I also wanted to thank him for continuing with the great relationship with their largest trade partner, Canada.”
With all the focus on Mexico, did he get the sense Canada was even on their radar?
“I think the way he looked at me was he was appreciative of my comments and they weren’t a surprise. I think they get it. We’re the largest trading relationship in the world. A guy like Rex Tillerson, who’s close to the resource sector, absolutely knows that.”
He adds it’s still early to know exactly where the relationship is headed though he noted Trump’s team seems intent on growing their industry.
“They want to open up certain lands that have not been open for – what we would call crown land in Canada – their public lands,” says Zimmer.
“I think they want to open up some fibre to be utilized in the public lands of the U.S. So, I think we should be prepared for that.”
Comments
Oh Dear
“He said his goal was to re-establish relationships with members of congress and senators in Trump’s transition team to help ensure the Canada/US trade relationship remains strong.” .. but yet all he talks about is his “chance” meeting with a politician. What exactly was he doing down there? No mention of his results with whoever he was suppose to meet. Probably spent his time hanging out at the local eating establishment hoping he would bump into someone to talk to.
sounds like we may have appeared to be too eager to talk to Trump. Lets not be a puppy dog looking for attention
Well, most people don’t like being harassed when they’re eating, I hope Zimmer wasn’t chatting people up standing at the urinal.
Did anyone tell Zimmer that the Liberals have a majority and that he’s part of the opposition now?
That is part of Conservative cognitive dissonance NMG, in their minds they need to ignore the fact they lost the election and are no longer in power, therefore they ignore that fact and carry on as if they still are in power! Ideology “trumps” reality every time!
So in your world BH the opposition is not allowed to get out and meet and greet. But then liberal left progressives are not much on democracy more of a fascist bent. Example the anti free speech violent riot at Berkley which fits into the definition of fascists. Interesting how in the sixties demonstrations in Berkley where for free speech. My how times have changed.
Wonder if this comment will be allowed to stay?
Mr. Zimmer is a Member of Parliament, and represents all the people in his riding regardless of whether they supported him in the last election or not. His meeting with people involved in Trump’s new administration is entirely appropriate, considering that so many people in his riding depend a great deal on continued exports to the USA for their economic livelihood. It isn’t about who is in power here, it’s about getting to know those who are in power there, and what the direction they might take could mean for his riding and the people he’s paid to represent.
No, he doesn’t represent people in his riding that didn’t support him in the last election, he blocks them on social media. Go on his twitter feed or his facebook page and disagree with something he’s posted, or post something good about the Liberals or NDP and you will very quickly find yourself blocked.
How can you say he represents all his constituents when he blocks any that disagree with him or his party?
Tell me Seamutt, are you totally incapable of making a comment without spouting some anti left wing slander, in this case accusing the left of being fascist instead of democratic? And that despite the fact that fascists have always targeted the left every chance they have ever got, from the 1930s to the present day. That comment is completely disusting. Hang your head in shame.
That should be:
“That comment is completely disgusting.”
Fate, I would say that about ANY Member of Parliament or the BC Legislature, no matter what their Party. Once they are elected to the job their first obligation is to ‘represent’ ALL the citizens of their riding. Whether they supported them or not.
I’m sure if you had some need of their representation in dealing with those respective levels of government they’d do their best to try to help you.
I’m not a NDP supporter by any means, but when I once had a longstanding problem dealing with Canada Customs and our MP was a New Democrat, I contacted him and he worked on my behalf to resolve the issue. As I’m sure Mr. Zimmer would if you had need of his services. They are ALL there to work for US, regardless of their Party. We may not agree with their Party’s position on various issues, and feel sometimes they’re representing their Party or the government to us first, rather than the other way around, but if they want to keep their job they can’t do too much of that.
He’s not there to re-fight the last election over and over again on social media ~ that would be an utterly fruitless waste of time for all concerned. The time for that is in the next election campaign.
He said his goal was to re-establish relationships with members of congress and senators in Trump’s transition team to help ensure the Canada/US trade relationship remains strong.
==========================
I’m pretty sure that the government who is actually in control of parliament can do that stuff. And yeah, I’d say the same thing if roles were reversed.
Zimmer’s value, IMHO, is to hold the current government to account, to be a critic of their performance, and of course, to help constituents. That could provide some value. I personally think he’s wasting his time. Any action taken by the US is going to be with the people who have the authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the country, and that would be the Liberals at this point in time. Zimmer will have no impact with US lawmakers whatsoever. Sounds blunt, but it’s true.
I disagree, NMG. Zimmer is a Conservative, and the new US Republican government is said to be ‘conservative’, or more so than the Democratic Party previous one.
So Zimmer already shares some common ground with the views of the new US administration, more so than would be likely if he were a Liberal or a New Democrat.
This may well give him an edge in discerning what’s in store for Canada in terms of future trade relations, and an opportunity to express the concerns of people here that will be affected if the US opts for a severely protectionist trade policy. His line won’t be exactly the same as the governing Liberal’s one.
The US still needs allies and trading partners. It can’t internally consume everything it produces ~ it’s hamstrung by the same monetary system restraints that prevent that. Ones its leadership shows no more signs of actually understanding, or willingness to try to understand, than our leadership does. So it’s a useful move on Zimmer’s part.
@Fate, that is why you don’t get it. Your MP represents you regardless of whether you “voted” for him or not. He will still listen to you and put forward any motions you come up with if you are in his constituency.
I doubt if you were blocked it wasn’t because you posted something he “didn’t like” on his twitter feed, you probably posted something derogatory or inflammatory or borderline illegal.
@NMG obviously they can’t do that stuff
Ammonra, slander, I was stating a fact. Glad it got your attention.
Socredible, well said. Much like our MLA’s, they are there for all of us, no matter which party we voted for.
Conservative MP Bob Zimmer is “NOT” an official opposition critic for: Natural Resources “Pipelines”; International Trade; Industry; Foreign Affairs; Energy; Economic Development; nor a Global Affairs critic specializing in U.S. – Canada Relations!!!
Conservative MP Bob Zimmer “IS” the official opposition critic for Transport specializing in “Asia-Pacific Gateway”; Assistant / Associate Critic for Employment Social Development specializing in “Family Issues”; Assistant / Associate Critic for Employment Social Development specializing in “Children”!!!
In my opinion, and last I checked, the USA is not a part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway, therefore Bob Zimmer had no “Official Federal Government Business” being down there!!!
www .lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MinistryMembers.aspx
Don’t know as much about him as you thought, hey? You should go to his office and have a chat.
He is Chair of Canada’s National Prayer Breakfast – It will be held on May 17th this year for its 52nd annual in Ottawa. It was the US’s 65th annual National Prayer Breakfast last week
Get informed, it will do you good
So you are admitting that Zimmer was down there operating “on a wing and a prayer”.
Nice to see that he does not believe in the separation of church and state.
Funny you mention that, Harper didn’t attend prayer breakfasts but guess who does not miss it… Trudeau actually used it to appologize for pushing NDP MPs while telling them to “get out of the f***ing way”
How can attending a National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, which was deemed unconstitutional in the United States, be part of a Canadian Conservative Opposition MP Member’s Job? How much did it cost us taxpayers to send him on this trip?
I can tell you this much, the Liberal Government in Australia, and their electorate, are upset one of their elected government officials Kevin Andrews, booked time off sitting the their parliament, for a trip to attend the same event (US National Prayer Breakfast) at a cost of $2,000.
ht tp://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/kevin-andrews-charged-taxpayers-2000-to-attend-prayer-breakfast-20170114-gtrf05.html
Let me make my position on this subject perfectly clear, taxpayers should NOT be footing the bill for their elected officials to attend any type of religious event. If anyone has a problem with that then lets assign a Federal Government MP to attend all religiously significant events and observances and pay for their travel expenses. I am fine with either approach… so if MP Bob Zimmer wants to take on that role, the next Muslim day of observance is Eid-al-Adha 2017 Saturday, September 2, 2017. Please note that this date is for Canada only, to have Mr. Zimmer attend Eid-al-Adha 2017 in other countries, there would be different dates in those different countries.
BeingHuman, didn’t your boy Justin visit an Ottawa Mosque last September for Eid-al-Adha?
I wonder what the cost was for his entourage, his travel, his security detail, etc?
You have your panties in a knot over Zimmer, why are you not whining about Justin?
There are posters on here who squawk every time a politician takes a trip. Who paid for Mr Zimmer’s trip to the US? Was is us the taxpayers? Then I will start squawking if it was. Out of line I say for him.
It was an expense. It was a business trip. Of course the taxpayers paid for it. He would never pay for that out of his own pocket. That would set a dangerous precedent.
In Germany, 77% of those who considered themselves very right wing also claimed to be satisfied in bed, while 71% of very left wing people claimed to have the same sexual satisfaction.
In all five participating countries (Sweden, Germany, France, Denmark, and Britain), very right wing people had the highest level of sexual satisfaction, whilst very left wing people tended to have the lowest on average.
92 percent of left-wing activists in Berlin, Germany, live with their parents, while one in three are unemployed, according to a report by Bild.
The data was based off of 873 political activists, who had been investigated by authorities between 2003 and 2013. 84% of those investigated were men, while 73% were between the ages of 18 and 29.
“A third of them were unemployed, and 92 per cent still live with their parents,” reported the Daily Mail on Tuesday. “The figures published in the Berlin newspaper said of the offences committed against a person, in four out of five cases the victims were police officers. In 15 per cent of these cases, the victims were right wing activists.”
Left-wing activists were also reportedly responsible for the attempted murder of eleven people between 2009 and 2013.
Attempted murder of 11 people between 2009 and 2013? Well in 1995, a “right wing activist” blew up a building in Oklahoma and killed 168 people . . .
Is there really any point in trying to extrapolate the behaviour of crazy people, at either end of the spectrum, to the general population? Should we not instead focus on what people have in common and work from that position outwards?
Bang on NMG, the politics of hate, fear, and division, can have a profound effect on people with mental health issues. Some can react to “uncertainty” in very explosive and unpredictable ways. All the terrorists acts committed on Canadian soil have been perpetrated by people with documented mental health issues.
Seamutt, loves to bang on the fear, hate, and division, drum… it’s what Alt Rights do.
BeingHuman, you keep beating on your “hate, fear and division” drum, so in keeping with that thought, perhaps you can explain the following:
HATE – why do you “hate’ when others provide you with factual information that destroys what you put forth as facts, causing you to run away in FEAR without any debate?
FEAR – what is the reason why you never answer direct questions that question your facts? What is causing your apparent FEAR of any reasonable and rational debate?
What is it that you do for a living? Oh, you hate that question and your fear prevents you from answering! I see, hate and fear!
HG …. I’ll provide you with some factual information.
As I post this it is Tuesday, February 7. 2017 in Prince George, BC, Canada.
That is a fact.
Similar to your facts, there is no meaningful relationship of the fact with the issue under discussion.
If you feel otherwise, then provide the rationale which ties your so-called fact together with the issue.
gopg2015, please forgive my transgressions! I will endeavor to keep from straying off topic! I’d hate to think that I’m the only one guilty of this faux pas!
Hey just posting some facts, must be hitting close to home, get it, home.
Ammonra:”Tell me Seamutt, are you totally incapable of making a comment without spouting some anti left wing slander,…”
Plenty of hateful comments are being posted against Conservatives, right wingers, Liberals and non-NDPers, comments like cognitive dissonance, hating children and so forth! Perhaps that should be toned down quite a bit?
This morning I posted a lighthearted funny comment, but it was immediately deleted. No big deal but it was neither “slander” nor hateful. It probably infringed on something that does not allow the mentioning of a brand name of a product. Editor’s privilege!
Cheers!
@ Ammonra, where is your outrage over BeingHuman’s many outrageous comments, including this very recent one directed at some of the people commenting on this site:
“new Alt Right breed of Conservative, the kind that would side with the KKK, and the American Nazi Party,”
Ammonra, I have yet to see you criticize or comment on BeingHuman’s many tasteless and outrageous comments! Why is that?
In case you missed the question, I’ll repeat it! Why is it that you do not criticize or comment about BeingHuman’s many tasteless and outrageous comments?
Hart Guy, thank you for your comment! What really got my goat are the remarks about our provincial government “hating” children! One may get a personal impression that it care more, but accusing it of “hating” children is way over the top and totally unfounded.
Just like Trump, Hart Guy has opinions.
Unlike Trump’s opinions, Hart Guy’s opinions sit there doing no harm and die off with a half life of 2.36 seconds.
Trump’s opinions, on the other hand, are potentially extremely dangerous and earth shattering in the literal sense.
Gopg you got a lot done in 2.36 seconds. Read the comment, thought about it, formed a reply, typed it, all in 2.36 seconds, wow.
gopg2015, my comment here was not an “opinion”! I was stating some facts and asking some questions!
I would hope that some might read my post and also wonder why ammonra would criticize Seamutt for his comments but would completely ignore comments from BeingHuman, comments that some might consider far more outrageous, insensitive and inflammatory than anything that Seamutt posted!
I would also hope that some would take more than a half life of 2.36 seconds. Obviously PrinceGeorge has done that (Thanks, PrinceGeorge)! I would also hope that ammonra might take more time than that to ask herself why she attacks Seamutt while ignoring far worse comments from others!
gopg2015, I’m sorry that you missed that!
“Oh Dear”, the first comment says it all, folks.
This is not how to make government and public discourse great again.
Skip over seamutt and Hart Guy’s frivolous comments and you will find a very serious and meaningful level of public discourse on this news story about Zimmer attending a religious function in the USA… because we sorted out the fact he was not there on “Official Federal Government Business”!
I for one am glad that our local MP, even while sitting in Opposition, is busy looking after the interests of those in his riding and of all Canadians! While some might prefer that he sit in his office 24/7 doing nothing more that collecting a paycheque, I suspect that those same people would then bitch if that was all he was doing!
“MP Zimmer Promotes Trade and Attends the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC”
February 6, 2017 – Ottawa, ON
Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, traveled to Washington DC last week to promote Canada’s interests in trade and to build relationships with the new Trump administration.
“My goal was to establish and re-establish relationships with Members of Congress and Senators in President Trump’s transition team in order to ensure our Canada/US trade relationship remains strong,” said Mr. Zimmer. “I am grateful for the open doors I received in Washington and for the opportunity to discuss the need for a softwood lumber agreement, the Keystone XL pipeline, and the importance of keeping our Canada/US mutually beneficial trade relationship and friendships strong. Particularly important was meeting and talking with recently confirmed US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.”
Mr. Zimmer was also able to meet with several Members of Congress including Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Jeff Duncan, Rep. Rob Wittman, Rep. Rob Bishop, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Rep. John Moolenaar, Senator Mike Lee and Joe Manchin.
As Chair of Canada’s National Prayer Breakfast Mr. Zimmer also attended the 65th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC and as Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus Mr. Zimmer was able to make some important connections in the joint effort to maintain our environmentally sustainable North American outdoor heritage.
Canada’s National Prayer Breakfast will take place in Ottawa on May 18, 2017.
ht tp://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/kevin-andrews-angers-party-whip-with-prayer-breakfast-reason-for-washington-visit-20160129-gmh84y.html
The Christian Evangelical Far Right can have their get togeathers anytime and place they want, but it should not be on the taxpayer’s dime!!!
There are 4,200 faiths / belief systems in the world, who gets to choose preferential treatment among them?
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