The Chair of the National Liberal Caucus, MP Anthony Rota of Nipissing-Timiskaming has spent a few days in Huron Bruce riding listening to what constituents have to say.
On Soundingboard Wednesday Rota says he has met with councillors, business people and ordinary citizens in Port Elgin, Kincardine, Brockton, and Goderich.
He says the idea of his meetings is more to listen to what the grassroots concerns are which he will take back to the party’s summer caucus meeting coming up in September in Winnipeg.
In this area Rota has heard about the concerns facing the agriculture industry and what help may be forthcoming.
However, he says environment has been a big issue to discuss in this area as well although he did not go into detail on what was discussed.
Rota says one of the more frustrating things facing the government is the all-party committee work.
He accuses the Prime Minister of deliberately sending his members in to disrupt the meetings as much as possible.
Rota says Stephen Harper is having problems “bullying” everyone so he’s trying different tactics.
As far as a fall election is concerned Rota says he was elected to make the government work for the good of the country, not to get ready for another election.
He suggests the Liberals aren’t the bad guys here but the Conservatives.
Rota says Harper has been trying to force an election ever since he was elected to head a minority government two-and-a-half years ago.
By law, there does not have to be a federal general election until October 2009 but the mood suggests there might be one this fall.
