Conservative Kootenay-Columbia candidate Rob Morrison addressed a crowd of roughly 40 in Creston on April 23, 2019.
He was joined by Conservative Members of Parliament Bob Benzen and Mel Arnold. Talking points made by Morrison and his peers were caribou recovery, gun ownership, the carbon tax and getting pipelines built, including the Northern Gateway.
The main focus for North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold was wildlife management. He criticized the BC government for not reaching out to organizations in small communities before hashing out a caribou rescue plan. Having spent 10 years with the BC Wildlife Federation and Governance Committee Chair for the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Arnold advocated for predator management.
“We need to step up and develop predator management programs to manage predators at a sustainable level.” Explained Arnold. “We don’t want to kill all the wolves. We don’t wan to kill all the cougars. We want to bring them back down to a natural level compared to their prey species.”
Arnold also warned of what would happen happen if BC failed at protecting the at risk caribou.
“Then the Federal Species at Risk Act kicks in, and there’s a clause in the act that basically says anyone who causes harm to any one of that species is guilty of an offense.”
He said this would affect industry and recreation making restrictions, and the consequences for not abiding by them, more severe.
Calgary-Heritage MP Bob Benzen spoke on Bill C 71 which affects gun laws and ownership. Though he said he supports mental health checks and tougher sentences on crimes involving guns, he criticized the tougher laws for what described as ‘responsible gun owners.’
“One of the things we know is that since 2005 until now, the number of restricted weapons has gone up 230%. In that same period of time, the number of homicides where a firearm has been used in them, particularly a handgun, has not changed.”
Stats Canada reports 1966 homicides involving a firearm from 1995 to 2005. 1959 homicides are reported in the same 11 year time frame from  2006 to 2016. Though the number spiked to 266 in 2017. Former RCMP officer Rob Morrison added that many gun owners in Canada have more gun training than the average RCMP officer, crediting Canada’s existing gun safety laws.
Benzen also touched on the United Conservative Party’s win in Alberta, saying that a Federal Conservative Party victory would mean a greater push for up to four new pipelines. Repealing the carbon tax was brought up as well.
Residents voiced their concerns and disdain for the Trudeau government. According to Morrison, the running theme was affordability.
“Lets start focusing on what we can change and how do we do that. I think two people were interested in what we as conservatives will do. I’m not bashing the other parties. I just say, me as a conservative, here are our priorities. Such as the economy, such as getting jobs, infrastructure funding. Having the Federal government be a part of this community.”
Morrison and his Conservative Party Town Hall delegation moved onto Nelson the same day.