My Championing Local Business tour has opened my eyes to a wide range of enterprise in Saanich North and the Islands. I have visited facilities manufacturing heavy industrial equipment for logging and marine ports, boat building and repairs, food processing and research and development in a variety of fields. Clearly, my riding is home to a vast...
I grew up on the marina docks in Brentwood Bay. Kicking around the Brentwood Inn and fishing at Jimmy Gilbert’s are fond memories for me. A lot has changed since then, but I was brought back to the days of my childhood when my "Championing Local Business" tour stopped in at Canoe Cove. Tucked into the trees just east of the Swartz Bay ferry...
Tension is growing in the forests across British Columbia so I thought it was appropriate to reflect on my work in the Spring session of the legislature standing up for our most treasured ancient creatures. Fresh images of devastating clearcuts hacked from the valley walls of Schmidt Creek, Naka Creek, Tessium Creek and Upper Tsitika Watersheds...
A few months ago, I wrote on the whiteboard in my office boardroom "big bears, big fish and big trees." Those words have been there ever since. They are three world-famous icons of British Columbia. In a previous post, I said that we are still acting like a resource colony. My critique of our decision-making process is that we have a culture in...
Two sounds are very familiar to me, bringing me back to my childhood: the gurgle and sputter of the 10-horse Briggs and Stratton pushing our 22 foot Clinker through the Saanich Inlet and the wizz-click of our Scotty downriggers. Scott Plastics, better known as “Scotty”, was started in Victoria in 1952 by Blayney and Amelda Scott. Today they...
Head north down Mcdonald Park Rd. then turn right down an unmarked fire-lane just before the Sidney Feed Barn and you will find Titan Boats.After accidentally walking into the engineering team’s office, I discovered Titan operates in several buildings...specifically 5,400 sq. feet of fabrication space and another 1,600 sq. ft shop for outfitting...
Last fall we began to tour the incredible businesses on the Saanich Peninsula. The tour continued at Viking Air Limited. Viking is an exciting company that continues to grow at the Victoria International Airport. After a walk through of their production facility and an overview of the operations with Dominique Spragg, VP of Strategic Planning and...
There’s more to a log than meets the eye: how a local debarking company contributes to producing quality products in BC and around the globe Do you ever wonder what goes on in that mustard building next to the Victoria International Airport in the West Sidney Industrial Park? Well Nicholson Manufacturing makes some of the toughest and most...
Have you ever driven down West Saanich Road and seen a sign that reads “Epicure”? For years, I drove past wondering what was going on in the big building at the end of the long driveway. On Wednesday, October 22nd I had the pleasure of visiting Epicure, meeting many of the executive team and touring the facilities. Epicure provides fast and easy...
Apparently the truth is not a necessary component when claiming someone else is "mutilating the truth." In an attempt to smear the BC Green Caucus for standing up for what is in the interest of British Columbia, Resource Works has published a blog post about a question I asked in Question Period on Monday April 23, 2018. In the process, they let...
Protecting our coastline I responded to a Private Members' Motion that was originally put forward by MLA Dan Davies (Peace River North). As Mr. Davies is away, MLA Peter Milobar (Kamloops-North Thompson) put the motion on the floor. The motion is as follows... Be it resolved that this House urge the Government of B.C....