Our local M.P. recently pushed Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Dominic Leblanc to make good on his promise to protect local communities from climate change through green infrastructure funding.

Cowichan-Malahat-Langford M.P., Alistair MacGregor is pushing for the Trudeau Government to protect local communities from climate change.

While in the House of Commons MacGregor addressed a number of issues surrounding the challenges brought on by the low water levels and subsequent threats to salmon populations that is a reality in the area.

MacGregor says many groups, including the Cowichan Valley Regional District and Cowichan Tribes, have come together and are partnering in the quest to get the funding to build a new weir.

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Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Terry Beech says the federal government is working with many partners in the hopes of finding a solution to the problems this outdated infrastructure is causing.

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MacGregor says a number of groups, including Cowichan Tribes and the Cowichan Valley Regional District are coming together in an effort to find a solution to problems associated with the weir.

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Beech says the federal government is looking for the best long-term solution that addresses the issues central to the Cowichan watershed.

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Beech adds that other priorities and investments are underway on the Cowichan River, including salmon stock assessment projects and habitat restoration.

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Provincial politicians have a busy couple of weeks ahead.

On Tuesday, February 13, the New Democrats will make the Speech from the Throne, highlighting their priorities moving forward for the next year.

On February 20, the provincial government will unveil the 2018 budget and Cowichan Valley Green Party M.L.A., Sonia Furstenau says it's the first N.D.P. budget that hasn't been laid out by the Liberals.

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She adds there need to be changes put in place for provincial fish farms, particularly in the Broughton Archipelago.

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The fate of the cannabis legislation will also be determined and Furstenau says it will be a grueling, but important three and a half months.

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She says Premier, John Horgan, and the provincial government have already hinted at their priorities moving forward.

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Furstenau says that working with the provincial government is important, but taking the New Democrats to task is another priority from the Green's perspective.

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