Ward Stamer, the newly elected MLA for Kamloops – North Thompson is confident his years of experience in forestry as a logging contractor can be useful in his role as forestry critic in the shadow cabinet alongside the NDP’s Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar.
Stamer, the former mayor of Barriere, was recently appointed by Conservative party leader John Rustad on Nov. 20 to this high-profile position.
“I’m hoping to work well together with Minister Parmar," Stamer said. "We can’t dwell on things that have happened in the past. There is so much to be done with regards to wildfire mitigation, fibre supply and the softwood lumber crisis. I certainly hope the NDP will be receptive to constructive input as we work together. We have new ideas and I’m looking forward to collaborating. Our softwood lumber agreement hasn’t been ratified since 2015 and we are paying the largest stumpage fees in North America through taxes on our products. These are critical issues to address and I’m ready to do the work as I’ve spent much of my career in the forest industry in B.C.”
Stamer is also looking forward to working on other issues for his constituents in Kamloops – North Thompson.
“Highway safety is a priority, especially on Highway 5. We need to engage within our communities, with regards to forestry, agriculture, and long-term sustainability," he said.
Moving forward the Kamloops-North Thompson MLA intends on “being as accessible and approachable as I always have been” even though it will be a week or two before the emails and new phone lines are set up in the former office of MLA Milobar that he is taking over for now in Kamloops.
He said if constituents need to reach him they can contact him through his legislative email or even by leaving a message with Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar until everything is set up with his office within the next couple of weeks.
"We are hitting the ground running, ready to work together and make progressive changes for future sustainability in B.C.” said Stamer.
To contact MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, Ward Stamer you can email him directly at: ward.stamer.MLA@leg.bc.ca
