Prince George – Cariboo MP Todd Doherty has a few reasons why 2017 was a memorable year for him.
He lists the passing of his bill, Bill C-211, the negative and positive outcomes of the summer wildfires, and the softwood trade saga with the USA.
“Obviously softwood is such a cornerstone industry for our region,” explains Doherty.
“We don’t have a softwood lumber agreement and the U.S. side is: “We’re in a war, a trade war”, and they’ve levied unfair duties and tariffs on our producers which are negatively going to have an impact.”
Doherty acknowledged the negative implications the wildfires had on the softwood industry in the Cariboo, including losing 10 years of annual allowable cut, as well as the impact it’s had on residents.
Trying to look at the positive side, he says the fires brought communities together.
“We opened up our hearts, we opened up our homes, I think I’ve said this before we welcomed over 11,000 people into our community and we did so proudly,” Doherty says.
“I’m going to remember the signs of ‘Free Hugs’ and the little boy that wanted to spend his allowance buying ice cream for the evacuees.”
Doherty says the thing he will remember most about 2017 is how the region came through and did not let the worse fire season in the history of the province, and the biggest mass evacuation in B.C.’s history, get in the way of looking after each other.
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