Please find below my monthly Coast to Capital submission to The Local Weekly for September 2020:

As fall approaches, we all have a lot on our minds as we adapt to living and working during the pandemic. The federal government will stay focused on keeping Canadians safe, supporting our most vulnerable, and working with the private sector to ensure that our economy and our country comes out of this pandemic stronger than ever.

Last week I hosted a virtual meeting with several recipients to announce funding totalling close to $300,000 from the Government of Canada to improve food security for Sunshine Coast and Sea to Sky Corridor residents. The funds were distributed through central hubs, such as Second Harvest Food Support Committee, to 16 recipients in our riding. On the Sunshine Coast, this included $40,000 to Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, $21,600 to the Sunshine Coast Food Bank, $16,000 to the Salvation Army Sunshine Coast, $13,300 to the Harvest of Hope Salvation Army Food Bank and $5,000 to the Pender Harbour Community School. While the need in our communities and the demands on the organizations and the dedicated people that work for them remains significant, it is heartwarming to hear how the pandemic brought us together to collaborate and ensure that those living in our community have access to a safe, healthy and secure source of food.

As the new school year begins, I want to acknowledge the difficult decisions that are being made by many parents. Canadians from across the country have spoken up with their concerns, worried about how prepared our schools are for students to safely return to class considering the ongoing threat from COVID-19. We all understand how important school is for the development of our youth, and for parents to be able to return to the workforce. School District 46s School Restart Plan shows how thoughtful and flexible this process can be to ensure that we get this essential task right, and we are committed to ensuring the resources are there to make this a reality.

That is why we stepped up to support the Government of British Columbia and local school boards through the $2 billion Safe Return to Class Fund. A total of $242.36 million is being provided to British Columbia, and $1.1 million to School District 46 to adapt learning spaces, improve ventilation, increase hand sanitation and hygiene, and purchase personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for the 2020-2021 academic term. Whether in the classroom or at the dinner table, our community can feel reassured that our government will have their back to navigate through these challenging times.

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