From left, Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, Conservative Party of Canada Leader Andrew Scheer and Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – Another federal leader is visiting our region today.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Williams Lake to meet with wildfire officials and get an aerial view of the devastation the fires have caused there, Conservative Party of Canada Leader Andrew Scheer is visiting Prince George.

He said he was invited to do so by local Conservative MPs Bob Zimmer (Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies) and Todd Doherty (Cariboo-Prince George).

“I wanted to come and see the efforts that are going on to help deal with the evacuees,” he said. “I also wanted to thank the first responders and thank all those hard-working volunteers that are really stepping up to the plate.”

Scheer said his day started with a visit of the evacuation centres, continued with a meeting with Mayor Lyn Hall and will conclude with a visit with the RCMP before he departs for his home province of Saskatchewan later today.

“Mayor Hall showed me all the teamwork that’s going on to help deal with this very major catastrophe that I think people outside of the area might not realize just the scope and scale of.”

He was also asked if he felt the federal response has been adequate so far.

“I have to say at times like this, the partisan differences really just melt away and it’s all about serving the community.”

Scheer added once the fire season has passed, his party will do all it can to ensure those affected by the fires receive the help they need.

“That is one of the things that came up at the round table this morning: when the fire season’s over, what are people going back to?

“For businesses that have lost a key part of their revenue stream or lost real assets or property, that’s where our MPs from here and the Conservative Caucus will be pushing the Liberals to make sure they are there to support whatever the province may be looking at in terms of that package.”

Doherty said Scheer’s visit was very much appreciated.

“It’s unreal. I said this earlier today, from the earliest days and minutes of this, we’ve been getting calls from the leader asking us how things have been going. Reminding us we have a whole caucus behind us,” he said.

“It ‘s not just for a photo-op, he just wants to see and say thank you to people on the ground.”

“It’s great to have him here as a support for us and our ridings,” added Zimmer.