We are now a few days into 2024 and we are teeing up the year, with local political figures and those in critical positions in the region.
Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams believes affordability will continue to be on the hot burner for Quinte area residents.
It is also the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force and of course Trenton is home to Canada’s largest air base.
“The military need our upmost support. They need funding. The fact that it is the 100th anniversary and awesome that we’re having an airshow here. Obviously we want to support the base and the military here as a whole.”
The international air show is the last weekend in June.
Williams says a concern that appears to be growing in our area, across Canada, and the world is divisiveness.
“Let people live their lives. Canadians’ values, families being able to raise their children. Really looking out for ourselves, but the government is there to help. At the end of the day, we’re finding that whether it’s from Palestinian-Hamas versus Israelis, Alberta versus Quebec, we’re seeing a lot of division and it’s creeping into these regions.”
Williams says the most important issues will be housing supply, affordability, interest rates, inflation, and local infrastructure.
On housing he says it is critical that the government gets out of the way of builders, to let them get shovels into the ground.
“The federal government’s role is to work on the broader housing issues like social housing, purpose-built rental. I support the idea of GST off of purpose-built rental. Making sure there’s funding for some of those bigger projects that Hastings County wants to do and Phil Spry and Bob Cottrell want to do. The problem is the red tape. I think the biggest thing the federal government needs to do is get out of the way.”
