EDITOR,
After my latest experience in dealing with MPs and their offices, I long for the old days (about a decade ago) when we had MPs like John Reynolds and MLAs like Harry Lali, who actually took time to listen to requests from their constituents and tried to help them. In my case, Mr. Lali and his office helped me with a WCB claim and Mr. Reynolds assisted me in a funding application to the Canada Council and actually appeared in a Christmas Music Video as part of my former community TV show.
Now my current MP, Mr. Weston, doesn't return phone calls or answer emails sent to him. I'm not referring to just recent efforts but other attempts years ago. Mr. Bob Rae's Ottawa office, despite my requests to the contrary, wanted to pass me back to the same office that doesn't answer my calls! Any emails to federal New Democrats have never been answered and I always get an answering machine no matter which office (Ottawa or constituency) I call. Even a B.C. Liberal Senator never returned my call and you would think with their reputation that they would actually have or make time! The best luck I've had is with Elizabeth May's office and as of this writing they are looking into my requests for me. This I greatly appreciate.
After spending over $100,000 of my actual, hard-earned cash over the years to develop excellent children's entertainment, including our new project, On The Back Porch CD, which features stories of Canada including the sailing of the St. Roch and who's on the five and 10 dollar bills, I had a thought that maybe our elected officials would like to be involved in promoting Canadiana to our young people. Do you think they know who's on the 5 and 10 dollar bills? Our current politicians could learn a lot from those two gentlemen.
So, I'm going to conclude from this experience that if you can contribute to the chosen party or are actually part of their agenda, then they will bend over backward for you between elections. Otherwise, don't expect too much from your elected official, no matter what level; that way the disappointment won't be too great and you can remember your experience when you're in the ballot booth deciding where to place your vote. As for me, I'm just going to keep on performing and saving my pennies in between voting.Daryl Robb
Squamish
