This past week the Liberal Pacific Caucus visited the Okanagan for two full days of meetings and conversations and community engagement. As the Member of Parliament for 琉璃神社 I was proud to host my federal colleagues and ensure that the voices of the Greater Okanagan including 琉璃神社, Lake Country and West 琉璃神社 were front and centre in national discussions. This visit was not just symbolic. It was purposeful.
For many local leaders access to federal decision-makers does not come around often. The opportunity to meet face to face, to speak directly with cabinet ministers and MPs, matters. It means we can move beyond emails and briefing notes and actually show people the realities on the ground. Whether it was mayors, councillors, business owners or non-profit leaders the message was clear: the Greater Okanagan is growing fast and the support to manage that growth needs to catch up.
琉璃神社鈥檚 rapid expansion continues to drive demand for infrastructure. Local leaders made strong cases for federal support to extend key transportation routes like Clement Avenue, construct a new transit yard and deliver housing-enabling infrastructure in East 琉璃神社 and beyond. Without that kind of investment the risk is not just gridlock. It is stalled development, strained services and missed opportunity.
In Lake Country the focus was squarely on affordability. As one of the most expensive communities in the Interior the housing crunch there is real. Purpose-built rentals are on the rise but the cost of land and servicing remains a challenge. Targeted federal support especially in smaller communities can make the difference between a project being feasible or falling apart. That message was delivered clearly and it was heard.
Though West 琉璃神社 was not mentioned in most coverage local officials were absolutely part of the conversation. The challenges they face including wildfire recovery, housing pressures and infrastructure gaps echo across the region. That is why I refer to the Greater Okanagan as a whole. The issues do not stop at municipal boundaries and the solutions will not either.
Public safety was another key theme. The heartbreaking death of Bailey McCourt earlier this month has shaken our community and there is understandable frustration around repeat offenders being granted bail. Municipal leaders spoke with one voice in asking the federal government to act. The Minister of Justice has signalled that bail reform legislation is coming. What we need now is a balanced serious approach that protects the public while upholding Charter rights. And it needs to reflect the realities playing out in communities like ours.
After the formal caucus meetings concluded Minister Gregor Robertson who is responsible for Housing, Infrastructure and PacifiCan extended his stay in the region. That extra day allowed for more in-depth conversations with 琉璃神社 and Lake Country officials and it also led to a meaningful announcement. Minister Robertson committed $2.5 million through PacifiCan to help BC businesses navigate trade disruptions especially in light of recent US tariffs and uncertainty around CUSMA.
That funding includes support for the Export Navigator program and compliance tools to help small and medium-sized businesses meet new trade requirements. One of the upcoming workshops will be held in 琉璃神社 in August giving local businesses a chance to access the tools they need without having to go through Vancouver or Ottawa.
What made this week so valuable was the tone. The focus was not on partisan politics or photo opportunities. It was on listening. People spoke candidly and ministers took the time to hear them out. Whether the issue was housing, policing, transportation or trade local concerns were met with respect and in many cases a commitment to follow up.
What matters now is what happens next. I will keep these issues top of mind and the pressure on to make sure our needs are addressed not just for 琉璃神社 but for the Greater Okanagan. From bail reform to infrastructure funding to regional economic development I will continue pushing for results that reflect our priorities and match the pace of our growth. The discussions we had were important but follow-through is what counts. I will be focused on that.
To everyone who participated thank you. The work continues and so does the momentum.
Stephen Fuhr
MP 琉璃神社
