After the conclusion of his first session as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens took the opportunity to connect with his constituents at a town hall at his Prince George office on Friday, June 6.
Anyone who visited previous BC United incumbent Mike Morris will recognize it as the same office he occupied at unit 102, 1023 Central St.
Before meeting with visitors, Giddens spoke to reporters and reflected on his past few months of work.
Late last year, Giddens announced his intention to present his first private member’s bill to help Tidewater Renewables’ renewable diesel refinery in Prince George.
The company said that with American producers getting subsidies in their own countries and then renewable diesel credits when entering the BC market, it was having difficulties remaining competitive.
Tidewater’s CEO told The Citizen that the company might have to close the refinery if the so-called “double dipping” wasn’t addressed.
After Giddens’ bill was introduced in February, Energy Minister Adrian Dix announced changes to provincial regulations that would increase the renewable component of diesel sold in BC from four to eight per cent and require the renewable product from Canadian sources.
In introducing the changes, Dix said he appreciated Giddens’ contributions to the file.
Though Giddens’ bill wasn’t ultimately passed, he said on Friday that it was still a worthwhile pursuit.
“It did the job because ultimately, the government changed regulations on the Low Carbon Fuels Amendment Act and that supported jobs at the Tidewater refinery here in Prince George,” he said. “That’s what I was trying to achieve all along.”
In the aftermath of those regulation changes, Giddens said he had spoken with Tidewater, which said they had “an immediate impact and it’s supported them for the near term.”
Giddens said he and the company agreed to monitor the situation and make sure that it will be sustainable in the long term.
While he didn’t provide too many specifics, Giddens said he’s working on another bill for the Legislature’s fall setting starting this October on fairness in public sector procurement.
Between now and then, Giddens said, he wants to hear from stakeholders and community members on their top priorities so that he can return to Victoria with new ideas.
Since his office opened back in February, Giddens said the issues that constituents most frequently bring up are health care in the north, public safety, mental health and addictions.
At his office in Mackenzie, he said constituents there bring up the unique challenges that community faces like emergency room closures and the state of the forestry industry.
Those wanting to visit Giddens’ office can drop by from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office can be reached by phone at 250-612-4194 and by email at [email protected]
