Gareth Smart chats with Jackie Tegart over video chat during COVID19. Jackie is the local Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Fraser Nicola riding which covers both Ashcroft and Cache Creek. Jackie has not been able to participate in the Legislative Assembly since it closed its doors at the beginning of COVID19, she has even closed her personal office doors in Ashcroft to do her part to stop the spread of the virus. However Jackie has been conversing with her constituents via telephone and social media, and although many things in the government has slowed, she has been participating in her committees via Zoom meetings.

In this interview they catch up with how she is doing during these times and then talk about some of the issues that have arose since the beginning of COVID19. One of the main things that taken up of Jackie’s time is the proposed NDP budget for personal and business relief during COVID19. Jackie’s stance was vague, but mainly said that the Government has as much support from the opposition as possible, but the writing could be on the wall when things get back to a little but of normal. What she is referring to is the money that the provincial NDP government has handed out to people and business to offset extra costs that the federal government has not provided, including extra money for seniors, individuals, people with mental health, students and small businesses. The sums range from $300-$1000 over and above what the federal government is giving out for the CERB the CESB etc.

The conversation then moved onto rural broadband internet connectivity or lack there of, and Jackie said that she was in current talks with local and provincial internet providers about this issue. This is a topic that our Member of Parliament Brad Vis is also championing. Speaking of Brad, Jackie talks a little about how he is sharing her office in Ashcroft with him, to make his visit as frequent and accessible as possible.

Gareth brought up the unfortunate death of the Snowbird that died flying over Kamloops. Jackie called the death devastating, as well as the civil unrest happening in the United States and around the world sparked by the death of George Floyd, she reiterated that it was tragic and devastating. A few other topics brought up for brief discussion was the federal gun ban on automatic rifles, and what she plans to do what the Legislative Assembly gets back to work. She intends on going back to Victoria on June 22 to hold the provincial government accountable.