MP John Williamson of New Brunswick Southwest has been busy representing the riding in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since returned to New Brunswick where he has completed two weeks of quarantine and is now ready to meet face-to-face with constituents at his office in St. Stephen. 

"This pandemic has changed how we work and how we interact both as communities and as a country," said Williamson. "I was home in New Brunswick leading up to lockdown. I noticed then how few people were even going to restaurants at that time. You could already see the impact the pandemic was having on small businesses." 

Williamson returned to Ottawa to sit in Parliament the week lockdown was put into effect. "I corresponded with citizens over the phone and by email," said Williamson about how his job changed drastically at the beginning of lockdown. "Although it was a different set up than traveling back and forth, I found I had a lot more time to speak directly with constituents because I wasn't traveling."

Williamson spent the following seven weeks sitting in Parliament as a both a representative of New Brunswick Southwest and the Progressive Conservative party. The role the opposition plays during a worldwide pandemic is different than "business as usual" circumstances.

"We've noticed a change of the tone in Parliament," said Williamson. "The role of the opposition is to be critical, but critical in a way that is meant to improve the programs that are on offer."

One of the major issues Williamson has been fighting for during this time is securing a year-round ferry to Campobello Island, an issue that's taken on even greater importance due to COVID-19. Williamson says the federal government is willing to work with the province provided Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Bill Oliver can provide a proposal for the federal government to allocate funds to. 

"Ottawa doesn't fund ideas; they fund proposals," said Williamson. 
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While the issue of securing a year-round ferry is now back in the province's hands, Williamson is nevertheless proud of how his riding and all of New Brunswick has responded to COVID-19.

"I think New Brunswick has been so successful because when people were asked to stay home, they did just that," said Williamson.