MLA Report from Pat Pimm

 I traveled in my role as Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Gas to the Minister of Energy and Mines and met with many groups and stakeholders within the oil and gas industry. 

I am also a member of the finance committee and visited 13 different Communities throughout BC to hear submissions for the 2012/13 provincial budget. Finally, I spent some time with the Rural Caucus travelling to many areas to hear the challenges and opportunities rural residents face.

In my role of Parliamentary Secretary I have been asked to report on five different areas that will have great significance for years to come.

A strategy for how BC will increase the use of electrification in the natural gas sector and mitigate the use of GHG emissions by natural gas exploration;

A plan to accelerate the use of natural gas in the transportation sector;

Meet with industry, provincial agencies and local governments to encourage the use of technology in the oil and gas sector;

Work with the NRRM in an effort to support job development and service centre opportunities; and

Research the opportunities and the job creation available through new infrastructure developments like Gas to Liquids and Liquified natural gas facilities.

This work as Parliamentary Secretary is nearly complete and the report will be going to the Minister. This has been very exciting for me and I have learned an awful lot about the very positive aspects of the natural gas industry and the positive news around this great industry. I am really looking forward to being able to share with you some of the findings that I have identified.

Our work on the finance committee is extremely interesting and really eye opening when you hear from every corner of the province. Many different groups and organizations contributed and their presentations will help shape the provincial budget.

Our goal for Rural Caucus was to collect feedback on how the government can help rural British Columbians with issues ranging from rural healthcare to predator control strategies. We met with many people, organizations and business leaders and found out just what the folks in rural BC are thinking. I do believe that most of us in the Peace and NRRM understand what problems and issues face rural BC, but by establishing a rural caucus we will ensure decisions made by government are done so by keeping a ‘rural lens’.

Overall I had a busy but productive summer and as we move into the fall I’m looking forward to taking the knowledge and experience I gained through my consultations with British Columbians and working towards making sure the voices of northeastern and rural BC are heard in Victoria."