NDP leader Jagmeet Singh gains full overview of community challenges and opportunities in two day tour of Prince Rupert

A full weekend of travel to Prince Rupert and then 
Terrace and Burns Lake made for the itinerary for
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
(from MP Taylor Bachrach's FB page)

The recent tour of the Prince Rupert area provide federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh with an opportunity to learn a fair bit about the North Coast, that as NDP MP Taylor Bachrach took Mr. Singh on a tour of the community and as we noted on Friday, a string of meetings over the course of his two day stay of Thursday and Friday last week.

Among the stops along the way, was a session with the Lax Kw'alaams Band Council on Thursday and a Friday morning meeting with representatives from the City of Prince Rupert.

That session would we imagine have provided opportunity for the civic officials to share some thoughts on the challenges for municipalities as they look to replace aging infrastructure with limited financial resources.

So far neither the City of Prince Rupert nor any of the elected municipal officials have provided for any notes related to their discussions with the Federal leader, or to make note of the topics that were discussed during the session.

Mr. Singh and Mr. Bachrach with City of Prince Rupert
representatives at City Hall Friday
(photo from MP Taylor Bachrach FB)

An afternoon with the Prince Rupert Port authority and a chance to tour some of the industrial facilities was part of the Friday schedule, with both the DP World container terminal and the Ray-Mont facility on Ridley Island part of the itinerary.

The NDP leader and Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP at
the Fairview Container Facility Friday
(photo from MP Taylor Bachrach FB)

Thursday evening the North Coast Labour Council had the ear of the NDP leader, as he and Mr. Bachrach, along with North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice met with local labour officials to review a lengthy list of local concerns.

Mr. Singh, Mr. Bachrach and MLA Jennifer Rice speaking with
local labour reps on Friday evening
(photo from MP Taylor Bachrach FB)

A look a some of those key areas of note were outlined as part of an information release from the Labour Council on Tuesday,  among some of the issues that local labour raised with Mr. Singh at that session included:

Standing up for the interest of the working class

Focus on solving issues specific to Northern Communities

Make Transport Canada accountable for Marine Safety

Establish a Maritime College in Prince Rupert

Fight to power airline prices and improve service for Northern Communes, especially remote communities

Fix the Health Care Staffing crisis, especially in Northern and Remote Communities

Fix the "Medical' Cannabis production loophole - Let Prince Rupert and other cities regulate industrial cannabis production

Help address the Housing crisis with Federal policy

Invest in Climate-Safe Industries for the North.

Towards their list of Ten, the North Coast Labour Council noted of the need for action over rhetoric towards achieving the change that Canadians are looking for.

We look forward to the NDP pushing for federal policies that will directly improve the working conditions and daily lives of all Canadians. Like you, we believe that our members need more than mere rhetoric. 

They need results. How we frame our demands, what values we advance, and the battles we focus on will determine whether or not we achieve these results for all Canadians.

From the Sit down with the Labour reps, Friday evening wrapped up with the NDP social and fundraising event at the Highliner Inn Plaza Hotel, that event hosted by City of Prince Rupert councillor Reid-Sketlon Morven.

City Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven served as MC for
the Friday night social for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh
(Photo from Councillor Skelton-Morven's FB page)

The weather sabotaged Mr. Singh and Bachrach's plans for a trip over to Haida Gwaii, the pair instead hitting the road eastbound and trips to Terrace and into Wet'suwet'en territory and visit in Burns Lake to wrap up the weekend in the Northwest.

The Federal NDP leader noted of his travels on Monday, sharing a few of his snapshots through his twitter feed.

You can find a recap of many of the stops along the way from the Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP's Social media stream.

Further notes on the work of the MP in Ottawa can be reviewed through our archive page.