With the transition of the provincial government recently having taken place, it’s common for people to ask me how my role as an MLA will be impacted. In many ways, little will change. Our constituency responsibility to work on behalf of the people of West Vancouver - Sea to Sky from Harrison Lake to the Hurley, and from D’Arcy to West Vancouver, remains the same.
My staff and I will continue to provide all constituents, from individuals to local governments and community groups to businesses, with assistance in matters that involve provincial jurisdiction or influence. Key priority areas remain the development of a regional transit system to connect the Sea to Sky with Metro Vancouver along with an updated assessment of the potential for high speed rail connecting Whistler-Squamish-North Shore with downtown Vancouver. In West Vancouver - Sea to Sky we are in many ways the poster child of the rural/urban interface and in the riding we have much to offer the government by way of experience, challenges and lessons learned in bridging the rural and urban priorities gap.
Issues of an ongoing nature continue to include the provision, expansion and variety of healthcare services throughout the region, the continuation of efforts to provide remedies in support of housing affordability for families with a particular focus on vulnerable populations and the important role both housing and transportation issues play in the sustainability of local and small businesses in the community.
As social media continues to highlight all that we have to offer in the region, I am constantly reminded by constituents as well as my own personal experience that we need to be mindful of the capacity of the land base to handle all the activity and interest. We need to be vigilant and attentive to the evolving quality of experience for both residents and visitors. It is important to understand that our communal footprint has the potential to become so significant that the natural environment and our experience on the land becomes unacceptably degraded. Some will argue that in certain areas we have already reached that tipping point.
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is a most recent and prominent example of the challenges we face. Hundreds of cars overflowing the parking lot and obstructing Highway 99 while 2,500 people in a single day walk a previously tranquil trail. Clearly, building a 1,000-car parking lot is not the answer, and while solutions are neither obvious nor easy, an ongoing dialogue and continued exploration of ideas with stakeholders can generate important contributions.
As the region grows, understanding, anticipating and planning for the needs of residents and guests, community organizations, local governments and business is a constant consideration and your input is important in helping us do a better job for West Vancouver - Sea to Sky. If you would like to arrange a small group discussion with reach out at [email protected] or at 604.922.1153.
