Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen made a stop at Ms. Benner's class at Roland School

The MP for Portage-Lisgar has been touring the riding during a week-long break from Parliament. Candice Bergen says she has fifteen rural municipalities in her constituency, and it's important to get out to each one and speak with reeves and councillors as well as mayors in the towns and cities.

Bergen made stops in Roland, Miami, MacGregor, Holland and Treherne, and notes she enjoyed very productive meetings with community leaders who deal with people's challenges on a day to day basis. She adds, as a federal representative, it's vital she listens to constituents and brings their concerns back to Ottawa.  

Bergen says a couple of common themes ran throughout all the meetings this past week, with questions raised about the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund. She notes this $500 million fund has been announced, and will help communities with some of their smaller infrastructure, adding round table meetings are just finishing up now.

Bergen says another common concern raised by many of the RM's was rural water expansion.  She notes the federal government was pleased to offer "Growing Forward" funding to rural municipalities to complete water expansion projects, which is so important to rural development and agriculture.

Bergen adds she appreciates how many reeves and councillors made themselves available this week to meet with her and enjoy some open, frank discussions about the issues which concern people across the riding.