The New Year is always a time for a fresh start, for resolutions to be made and plans to be put in action. We set our goals, hopeful that we will achieve them.

I am sure that if you ask most people what they would like in the coming year, they would say among other things they wish are a good education for their children, steady work at a good wage, a clean environment, good health care. These are the foundations for a decent society, a society that we should expect in the North Island and in B.C.

It is sad that in 2008 these are not the realities for everyone. In the past few years we’ve seen the foundations of these basic rights undermined, as brick by brick the fabric of our society has been taken apart.

My goal for 2008 is that the communities in the North Island, and throughout BC, have hope once more. Hope for the present, and for the future, for our children and our seniors, working people and those on welfare; that there can be equality of opportunity for everyone in BC.

I would like people to see a BC where child care is available, accessible and affordable for every family in the province who needs it. Thousands of families would benefit directly by the provision, and the ability of people to get back to work knowing their children are in good hands would mean a huge boost to the economy.

Our whole society would also benefit from stability in the education system. We’ve seen the Campbell Liberals change the rules time and again, including part the way through the school year. With stability and a funding system based on schools and community needs, not just student numbers, students in Port Hardy would get the same access to high quality education that those in Campbell River or Victoria are receiving.

For those students who graduate, 2008 should be the year to hope that the apprenticeship system is rebuilt, and that a student grant system be considered to encourage our best and brightest to train and stay in our communities.

I would like working people to be able to expect wages that that allow them to live without worrying whether they should pay the rent or buy groceries, without having to hold two or three jobs or rely on food banks. I would like women to have the hope that there will get equal pay for work of equal value. And I would like those who have suffered a workplace injury to have their belief they are entitled to fair compensation for life, confirmed.

Everyone who lives on the islands must be hoping that 2008 is the year the government and management of BC Ferries realize that ferries are a part of BC’s highway system not cruise ships and make fares reflect that reality.

All our North Island communities must be hoping that 2008 gives them access to resources; unlike at the moment where the near monopoly of forest companies who have more interest in the Toronto and New York stock markets than the welfare of our communities have a stranglehold. Let’s hope that our logs, harvested from our Crown lands, are processed in our communities creating jobs for our families.

I would hope that in 2008 we all radically change our approach to climate change; where polluters pay and green initiatives are encouraged.

I would like people to have hope that 2008 will entrench our publicly funded health care system and high quality healthcare is enhanced in our communities through our existing hospital structure.

And our seniors should be able to hope for a retirement and old age which is dignified, where they can stay in their homes with support from care workers.

There are hundreds of people in our communities, and thousands across the province, who are marginalized and have lived without hope for too long. We need to provide hope for them too starting with a welfare cheque they can live on a clean safe place to sleep.

We need hope for a better future and we need the commitment to translate that hope into reality. What I hope for in 2008 is that working together, we begin to rebuild a good society.

I am happy to meet with constituents at my Campbell River office: I can be contacted by phone on 287 5100, at home on 285 2167 or by email at Claire.trevena.mlaleg.bc.ca