Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

CATHY MCLEOD: Working together ... and reopening the economy



Re-opening the economy will take time

We are all wondering when we will be able to fully return to normal business operations.

In order for that to happen, we need to know more about how the virus works and assist with worldwide efforts to develop a vaccine that is safe and effective. Last week, the federal government announced $1.1 billion toward this goal.

In the meantime, face masks and physical distancing will be common, and large gatherings are discouraged. Those most at risk from the virus will still be asked to spend as much time at home as possible.

We’ll also have to wait for key benchmarks to be met. From lifting border and travel restrictions, to when essential industries will get back up and running, as these answers are rolled out, I will be sure to keep you informed every step of the way.

CLICK HERE for up-to-date info on programs and funding

---------------------



Working together ... and sewing the curve

The sewing community in my riding has their machines humming for a very special cause: making protective masks for front-line workers of all types, including retailers selling food. These masks, with special cow-themed material, were made by Paul Lake resident Margie Hudson for the team at Kamloops butcher, Chop N Block. 

What started as a doctor’s idea to sew fabric masks to help protect her staff from COVID-19 has exploded into a community stitched together by a love of sewing and the desire to help others. 

Spurred by her sister’s suggestion, Kamloops resident Tamara Vukusic set her needle and thread whirring. When the first mask took her three hours, she turned to Facebook for tips and had 89 shares in an hour. 

Others jumped on board and now there are 1,400 people on the Sew the Curve Kamloops Facebook page, with over 300 folks sewing masks, surgical caps, ear savers and scrub bags for health-care professionals and others on the front lines.
 
It’s become a true community of people “Working Together” through sewing, exchanging patterns and tips, and encouraging each other to keep going until they reach their mark of 10,000, and they’re planning for beyond that, too. 


Hats off to everyone involved, you make me proud to be your MP!

We will continue to be available to constituents through this crisis, if you have questions or concerns.

Phone: 
250-851-4991
Toll Free: 1 (877) 619-3332


Cathy McLeod (Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo) was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2008. She was appointed Conservative Shadow Minister for Natural Resources (Forestry and Mining) on November 29, 2019, and was the Shadow Minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs from 2017-2019.

Previously, Cathy served as Parliamentary Secretary to several Cabinet Ministers, including the Minister of Health, Minister of Labour and Western Economic Diversification, and Minister of National Revenue.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BC’s Forestry Decline Is a Policy Failure, Not a Market Reality -- Forestry Critic Calls for Accountability and Urgent Policy Reset

Conservative Party of BC Forestry Critic, and Kamloops - North Thompson MLA,  Ward Stamer As the Truck Loggers Association convention begins today, BC Conservative Forestry Critic Ward Stamer says British Columbia’s forestry crisis is the result of government mismanagement, not market forces, and that an urgent policy reset is needed to restore certainty, sustainability, and accountability. “For generations, forestry supported families and communities across BC,” said Stamer.  “Today, mills are closing, contractors are parking equipment, and families are being forced to leave home, not because the resource is gone, but because policy has failed.” Government data shows timber shipment values dropped by more than half a billion dollars in the past year, with harvest levels falling by roughly 50 per cent in just four years. At the same time, prolonged permitting timelines, unreliable fibre access, outdated forest inventories, and rising costs have made long-term planning impossib...

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...

Eby government signs another land-use agreement, as they say one thing and do another, during DRIPA chaos

While promising to fix DRIPA, the Eby government continues to quietly sign binding land-use agreements that fundamentally alter how Crown land is governed in British Columbia. On January 15, 2026, the government signed four ministerial orders advancing the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project with the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, amending the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan and changing how more than 166,000 hectares of Crown land can be accessed, developed, and managed. “This is Land Act reform by stealth,” said Critic for Indigenous Relations Scott McInnis. “British Columbians already rejected these changes once. In 2024, public backlash forced the NDP to pull its Land Act amendments. Instead of listening, this government has gone underground, signing individual deals behind closed doors, just like we’ve already seen in places such as Squamish, Teẑtan Biny, and across Northwest BC.” “The Premier admits DRIPA ( the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act) is creating ...

Labels

Show more