Report From Parliament's Hill

By Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

Friday, January 23, 2009 03:46 AM

“The Airport…my new office!”

Silver linings. This week I find myself reflecting on how good things can result even when the best-laid plans go wrong.

As many constituents are aware, whenever my duties do not require my presence in Ottawa, my staff and I engage in some very intensive manoeuvres to schedule meetings and briefings with as many local residents, community leaders and business people as possible. I particularly appreciate those opportunities when I can gather your valuable input “in person”.

This past week saw my schedule filled with such back-to-back meetings. The kind of schedule that makes my staff and I very pleased that we’ve been able to accommodate and touch base with so many constituents. However, we didn’t account for the havoc that Canadian winters often inflict upon air travel.

Frigid temperatures and the challenges of de-icing the plane in Ottawa caused a delay in my flight to Vancouver. That in turn resulted in missing my connecting flight to Prince George. When I rebooked on the next available flight, it was also delayed. By then, I had missed a number of appointments with constituents.

Fortunately, I was able to re-schedule some of those meetings and subsequently enjoyed productive and informative discussions with the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the forestry sector and a number of other individuals.

Upon my departure however my fate was once again in the hands of the weather. After six hours fogged-in at the Prince George airport, I was eventually rerouted to Quesnel before I finally made it to Fort St. John … too late to appear as scheduled at the High on Ice festival.

It was at this point that I began to accept (reluctantly) my derailed schedule, and to count my blessings.

“Silver Lining Number One”: … I have amazing staff. They were not only able to juggle my meetings with their usual professionalism, they were able to fill-in for me at the festival and ensured that the meetings I did hold went off without a hitch.

It was upon the delay of my flight out of Fort St. John that I began to recognize that my several hours of waiting at both the Prince George and Fort St. John airports actually comprised “Silver Lining Number Two”.

During those hours, I was able to meet and converse with many constituents and local business people. During a time when our Conservative Government has been actively seeking feedback, I was fortunate to find myself in the midst of multiple discussions that were highly engaging, frank and informative. And it didn’t require any ‘scheduling’.

While I don’t plan to start holding office hours at our local airports, I want to convey my appreciation to those who took the time to speak with me during those hours and for proving that waiting around in an airport does not have to be a ‘waste of time’!

When I finally made it onto a flight back to Ottawa, I was armed with many of your suggestions and ideas…and a strong reminder that the people of Prince-George-Peace River are good natured, well-informed and always willing to provide valued feedback…a trait I truly appreciate as your MP!

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Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 03:46 AM in Views by Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

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Comments

Posted by: Eagleone on January 23 2009 4:15 AM

Here is another suggestion. Lets grow the confederation by a new province by taking in Iceland in their time of turmoil.

The People of Iceland are rioting in the streets for the first time in their history. They have their parliament building blockaded, and they want all of their politicians hanging from the nearest lamp post. The insiders, politicians, and the banksters destroyed their country and now they are desperate for a solution to this crisis in their country of less then 400,000 people (a small Atlantic province).

Britain pulled the rug out from underneath Iceland using the new terrorism laws to strip Iceland of all their countries foreign assets. It was a low blow move that has left that nation looking to Russia for short term financing.

Iceland has no navy, no airforce, and no army... so they are a country that is very vulnerable at this moment. They have rights to a large portion of the north Atlantic off shore resources such as oil and gas, minerals, and fisheries that can either come into direct conflict with Canadian interests, or on the other hand could compliment Canadian interests. At one point Iceland had expressed an interest in joining Canada at the time when Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canadian confederation.

IMO this is a golden opportunity for both nations.

For Iceland to gain some economic security by switching to the Canadian dollar since their currency is now worthless and the regulatory protections that come with Canadian citizenship against this kind of thing happening in the future. This secures their off shore rights with backing that can protect it, and saves them from having to sell their future (and thus potentially off shore rights) to the Russians for future financing.

For Canada we secure our claim to the north Atlantic in regards to the critical issues of fisheries conservation, as well as future oil and gas developments. Iceland is a natural if there ever is one for provincial acceptance into the Canadian nation. With the huge increase in Canadian money supply of recent years I think we can easily afford to bring their economy under our own as a blunt to the inevitable hyper inflation that we are due for this kind of monetary 'stimulus'.

I vote to support Iceland as Canada's 11th province and the sooner we do this the better it will be for all involved. Once they are in Russia's orbit we will have a new threat to our whole sphere of northern sovereignty issues. We need them as much as they need us in their days of need, and I think it is a win/win if ever there was one in geopolitics. If we offered provincial staus... they at this time would accept out of their own personal financial security and they would do so overwhelmingly.

Once they officially collapse it will make it ugly for them... as well as for us (as they sell their rights to the highest bidder Russia) and we don't need that kind of complicated problem for Canada at this time.

Time Will Tell

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/21/iceland-globalrecession/print

Posted by: MrPG on January 23 2009 8:16 AM

Eagle, are you off your meds again?

Posted by: lostfaith on January 23 2009 8:20 AM

No MrPG

His bear friends have den'd up for the winter and he is beside himself.

Posted by: diplomat on January 23 2009 8:41 AM

I wonder if Hill could explain why just a few weeks ago the PM was smiling and gloating and stating that Canada is in fine shape and that everything is financially sound and in superb balance.

NOW, however, NOTHING is fine! Canada will not have a surplus for the next five years (!) - officially - and as much (or more) than 100 Billion dollars will be added to the debt, with 64 Billion borrowed just to make it through the next two years!

How can a government be so totally out of touch with reality?

It's almost a carbon copy of Bush's mis-accomplishments.

Poor Canada.

Posted by: Bridge on January 23 2009 10:18 AM

II,I,I,I,I, I can, I can, I'm such a wonderfull person.

Cheers

Posted by: Palopu on January 23 2009 10:21 AM

Give it a break diplomat;. If the Federal Government did nothing but sit back and let things take their course there would be no deficit, however all Canadians would be bitching because the Government did nothing.

This deficit is not because of the Canadian Government, rather because of world problems, not the least of which is the USA, and of course the stupidity of Canadians, and Americans who think that they can buy whatever they want on credit.

The time has come to pay the piper. I doubt if the deficit spending of the Goverment will make any difference, but you can rest assured that one reason it is being spent is because of the pressure from the Liberals, NDP, and the Bloc.

Do you seriously beleive that if the three leftest parties were to take power we wouldnt have any deficit spending???

Quit blaming the Government for the stupidity of business and individuals who created this problem.

Any surplus that the Conservatives had was either disipated through tax reductions, or spending programs. If it hadnt been spent there, then it would have gone to pay down the debt. So there would not have been a surplus to play with in any event.

Posted by: diplomat on January 23 2009 1:03 PM

Palopu, sorry I ruffled your feathers, but I will repeat what I said in my post:

"I wonder if Hill could explain why just a few weeks ago the PM was smiling and gloating and stating that Canada is in fine shape and that everything is financially sound and in superb balance."

Read my post carefully before you get your tie in a knot.

Perhaps you will stop accusing me of doubting the necessity of a deficit - and explain just WHY Harper made a pronouncement of *NO problems* one day and admit that the sky is falling just a few weeks later?

"Quit blaming the Government for the stupidity of business and individuals who created this problem."

You will notice that I did not do any such thing in my comments.

Give me a break. I just like my PM to be quite a bit more forthright and less manipulative. And I really did not expect Hill to explain anything when I made the rhetorical remark.

Cheers!

Posted by: my2bits on January 23 2009 4:40 PM

The reason they kept saying that Canada was in such a good position was that they were in an election campaign. They repeatedly told us how different Canada's situation was than that in the U.S., while the rest of us knew that if the States was in trouble, we weren't far behind.

Steven Harper said at one point that Canadians weren't worried about losing their jobs or homes, they were worried about what was happening on the stock market. At another point he told us to go out and buy stocks, that's what his mother was doing.

If they didn't realize at that time what was happening to us, they were, and still are, incompetent.

If they knew, and told us otherwise, then they're liars.

Either way, they have no credibility to get us through this.

Posted by: Chester on January 23 2009 10:47 PM

The Bank of Canada rate is as low as it was in 1958. 1%

The stock market is oversold, so anyone can invest at at least a 30% discount to book value of the companies they buy.

Taxes are being reduced.

The Governments are stepping in to provide financial guarantees to the banks, the insurance companies and corporations.

Government may even consider downsizing and eliminating duplication of services.

BC Provincial government is announcing spending committments to the tune of $285 Million over the next 3 years. Or is it $485 Million?

Federal Government is suggesting 150,000 new jobs this year with their stimulas plans.

The intervention is nothing like we have ever seen previously. The recession will be shorter. The rebound will be quicker and higher than ever. The opportunities are everywhere. The sad part, most will miss out because of fear, negativity and pessimissm about our future.

I believe we are seeing the best opportunity in a generation. Most just see the worst time in their lives.

Posted by: gus on January 24 2009 9:39 AM

And who are we going to sell the products to that we manufacture?

We are a trading nation and our success over the past decade has been in selling our products and resources, much of which has been oil.

We might create NEW jobs in construction and other goods and service producing sectors that are needed to create "at home" infrastructure improvements, but those who have jobs in the manufacturing and service sectors that rely heavily on exports will be hit hard.

Also, unlike the Prime Minister's mother, I and most others in Canada do not have the $ to buy stocks at bargain prices. Another arrogant, insensitive, uninformed comment from the PM.

Posted by: lostfaith on January 24 2009 2:30 PM

Posted by: Bridge on January 23 2009 10:18 AM
II,I,I,I,I, I can, I can, I'm such a wonderfull person.

Cheers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YA your such a wonderful person I left you a message in the letter to the editor section of this site Bridge.