Vanderhoof councillor slams Rustad after mill closure: “Our MLA has failed to reach out”
Vanderhoof city councillor Brian Frenkel has called out John Rustad for not contacting the city in the ten days since the Canfor Plateau mill closure – and then using the site as a photo op yesterday. Frenkel posted to Facebook:
“I’m at a loss for words. It has been 10 days since the Canfor announcement in regards to the plateau closure. As our community struggles to deal with the path forward we are working and talking to as many folks who have offered support. Ministers, Deputy Ministers, government staff and industry. HOWEVER, our MLA has failed to reach out to our Mayor and offer his support, thoughts or a path forward. But yet he shows up for a photo OP today at Canfor Plateau to unveil his partys forestry policy. Still no contact with our Mayor today. Unbelievable, wouldn’t he want know what the community of Vanderhoof was thinking.” (Link)
Rustad’s constituents are taking to the replies to weigh in on Rustad’s performance as MLA:
“This is very disappointing, astonishing and just sad that our MLA shows up for a photo op but doesn’t even reach out to our community that he is supposed to care about and represent.” –Jody Gerhardi Pedersen
“I guess it is the difference between an elected representative choosing to serve our community versus choosing to use our community as a prop to serve his political aspirations.” -David Peterson
“Very disappointing to hear that he doesn’t have the balls to talk to our community or come to the all candidates forum. Not representing our community in the ways needed.” -Laura Ann Goodwin
“He is pathetic and that’s me going easy on him!” -Pat Lawrence
“Disappointing. I used to respect the man.” -Alan Madill
“The least he can do is reach out. Or make a statement of some type. Everyone else has somehow found the time in their schedules. He is LITERALLY our local representative. We voted him in. He is where he is today because of his riding. Yet he can’t even make a small statement? Or reach out to the Mayor? Pretty pathetic.” -Veronika Cooper
“He is supposed to be fighting for the people not the other way around.” -Nicole Jackman-Craig
“I am very disheartened by this. John Rustad is not the person who should be leading BC!!!!!” -John Murphy
“He’s full of unfilled promises.” -Tara Leslie
“He’s all about image, always has been.” -Judith Derksen
“Opportunity John trying to fool us twice.” -John Kostyshyn
“The MLA who is responsible for our area should have been in contact with our council the moment he knew of this closure. It is completely irresponsible and a dereliction of his duties as an MLA to completely ignore the constituents he is supposed to represent when something this challenging arises.” -Tom Bulmer