by Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston
Life in rural B.C. comes with a lot of amazing gifts, but past governments have not always understood the challenges and incredible opportunities in rural B.C.
As an MLA, I am honoured to represent our region in the legislature, and telling the stories of the people and communities in Nelson-Creston is a responsibility for which I am tremendously grateful. I want to make sure I am accurately reflecting what life is like for people here, what we have to offer the province, and what kinds of services and supports our communities need.
Fortunately, I am not alone in this. I get to work with a great team of rural NDP MLAs, and together we bring rural perspectives to the decisions that our government makes.
Since September 2022, I’ve had the privilege of leading our rural caucus, alongside my colleague Jennifer Rice from North Coast, as we worked to put together a new vision for how our government can better support and invest in a thriving future for people in rural B.C.
A community is strongest when people have good jobs, so they can support their families and re-invest in the local economy. Starting this year, most government jobs can be done remotely, from anywhere with high-speed internet. This means that more people in Nelson-Creston can be part of our public service. Not only does this mean good jobs with benefits, it also means that more people with rural perspectives will be at the table, creating legislation, policy and programs that actually reflect the needs of rural communities.
This is important because for too long, people in rural communities have been shut out from the work of government. I remember the fear and anxiety that rippled through Nelson on Jan. 17, 2001, the day the previous BC Liberal government cut thousands of jobs in our public service. I remember my fellow high school students lining up to use the school student phone to call home, only to be told their parents had lost their jobs or been transferred hundreds of kilometres away. These cuts devastated families and communities like ours across the province.
Our government is also investing in connecting communities with high-speed internet and improved cell service. This will allow more local businesses to sell online and grow their customer base. It also allows people to take post-secondary courses from home and expand their horizons. Not to mention, better connectivity helps all of us to stay safe and in touch with loved ones when we are travelling, and makes working for our provincial government or another employer remotely, possible.
Another way we’re investing in building stronger rural communities is making sure people and goods can get where they need to go, whether that is the next town over or the closest big city. This means we are making roads and bridges more resilient to weather and climate change and investing in in-land ferries, like the one being built in Nelson.
I am grateful that Premier David Eby has been such a champion of people in rural B.C., recognizing that we have unique priorities and challenges. It is under the premier’s leadership that we constructed a rural vision, which outlines our plan to build on the incredible opportunities for people in rural B.C. I feel honoured to have played a key role in the development of this commitment to ensure that it addresses the concerns that my constituents raise with me every day.
True leadership requires the ability to listen and then the dedication to act on what you’ve heard. At the Union of British Columbian Municipalities conference in September, the premier announced that we would be applying a rural lens to all government decisions. That is the work I will continue to develop alongside my rural caucus members with support from staff and experts. Our new rural vision is focused on making sure rural people have every opportunity to build a stronger future.
You can read more about that vision here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Good-Lives-Strong-Communities-2023.pdf