Aaron Gunn, member of Parliament for North Island–Powell River, has been appointed to a second parliamentary committee after joining the special joint committee on the exercise of powers under the Building Canada Act, known as BCAN.
BACKGROUND: North Island-Powell River MP appointed as member of Building Canada Act Committee
Gunn already serves as a member of the standing committee on fisheries and oceans.
“I’m already on the fisheries committee, so this is going to be double duty right now,” he said. “In all seriousness, it is an honour, but also a tremendous responsibility to try to push the government to fast-track and approve as many nation-building projects as can reasonably be done.”
He said the committee’s goal is to oversee projects being fast-tracked under conditions laid out as being in the national interest.
“We are going to be making sure the government isn’t using this to line the pockets of well-connected insiders, to safeguard against corruption, and to make sure important environmental regulations continue to be followed despite the fast-tracking of these projects,” he said.
Gunn reiterated that it is a non-partisan committee and that current economic conditions make it even more important for parties to work together.
“At this time in Canada’s history, especially economically, with what’s going on with these totally aggressive, unjustified trade actions from the U.S. against us, it’s more important than ever to come together as parliamentarians, put aside our partisan differences and work together,” he said.
The North Island–Powell River MP said he would like to see a new mine fast-tracked and built on northern Vancouver Island.
“As far as this riding goes, there is a move to build a new gold and copper mine just outside Port Hardy,” he said. “It has the potential for billions of dollars in new investment.”
He noted the company is not yet at the stage to begin construction, but once it is ready, the project would be worthy of having its permits expedited to create jobs as quickly as possible.
Given the current geopolitical and economic situation Canada faces with the United States, Gunn said it is more important than ever to identify projects of national interest and fast-track them.
