Boshcoff optimistic about 2008

With a full slate on his agenda, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff has a positive outlook on the coming year.
Some of his priorities include the forestry industry, the Canadian Content Levels for Public Transportation (“Buy Canada”) project, and agricultural issues.
Boshcoff also plans on continuing to work with individual communities within his riding—both municipal and the First Nations—on their priority concerns.
“I want to ensure that getting forestry on the front burner of Parliament produces results and action,” he remarked yesterday, adding a hearing on the issue will begin Jan. 28 and continue for about a month.
“This is the first time forestry has been on the federal agenda since the Liberal forestry plan of 2005,” he noted.
Boshcoff also plans to work on his private member’s motion called Canadian Content Levels for Public Transportation (“Buy Canada”), which he said is scheduled to be debated on Feb. 14.
The motion states “that, in the opinion of the House, the government should implement a policy, which is consistent with North American Free Trade Agreement and World Trade Organization policies and guidelines, to mandate Canadian content levels for public transportation projects, and to ensure that public funds are used to provide the best value to Canadians by supporting domestic supplier and labour markets.”
“I’m hoping that there is no election before then so I can get these two things through,” he noted.
The third item on Boshcoff’s agenda is agriculture issues since he sits on the agricultural committee. “I’m continually working on the issues of supporting domestic agricultural,” he said.
Specifically, Boshcoff would like to see an abattoir get up and running in Rainy River District.
“That the type, location, and size of the abattoir have been determined is cause for optimism,” he stressed. “There are also some immediate needs within the beef and pork industry. . . .
“And I think the local farmers know that I take their issues directly to Parliament.”
In addition, Boshcoff said he has not given up on the question of drought relief for area farmers. The local cattle industry lost an estimated $3.6 million due to lack of rain in 2006.
“I’ve not stopped persisting,” he pledged.
Boshcoff also is optimistic about the future of Rainy River District.
“One thing Northwestern Ontario has going for it is we understand what we have to do to be successful . . . and I believe we generally are well-focused on what we want the federal government to do to help.”