Staff photo by Prescott James Community members speak with Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Hoeppner at Hoeppner’s town hall meeting at Canad Inns on Friday. Issues covered included the PCU Centre being built in Portage la Prairie as well as a proposal for a post office at Long Plain First Nation. The meeting was part of Hoeppner’s campaign promise to remain in contact with her constituents.

Candice Hoeppner, the Portage-Lisgar Member of Parliament, went grassroots on Friday as she held a town hall meeting at Canad Inns in Portage la Prairie, where members of the community got some face time with the local MP. According to Hoeppner, this is part of her campaign promise to consult directly with her constituents to find out what issues are important to them.

In Portage la Prairie, at least, the issues that seemed to be most important to Portagers ranged from justice issues, including crime rates and gang violence, to decorum in the House of Commons.

"Crime has been a central theme in all the meetings I have done so far, but here in Portage, it seems that there is a real diverse set of concerns. There was a large number of issues: from crime to immigration to RRSPs and the ability to spend them," explained Hoeppner.

One of the less well-known issues that was also brought up at this particular town hall meeting was the fact that Long Plain First Nation is currently trying to get a post office placed in the reserve.

"Part of the condition of having a post office in Long Plain is that we have a successful business to compliment the post office. We are looking at building a grocery store in the community to complement a post office being in the community," explained Tim Daniels, general manager of Arrowhead Development Corporation.

According to Daniels, Canada Post has refused to place an office on the reserve, making it difficult for less mobile residents to acquire their mail.

"We do have an aging population, and we have several people with disabilities, so travelling one kilometre or so to get to the post office is definately an inconvenience for our band members," stated Daniels.

Currently, the band receives its mail in either Edwin or Portage, which is something Daniels thinks needs to be rectified.

Although Daniels wasn't sure what the specific criteria is for having a post office in Long Plain, he did believe it had something to do with the population in the area not being large enough. Despite this, Daniels did note the population and land base in Long Plain is increasing, and the need for a post office is expanding.

Hoeppner herself gave her assurance to Daniels that the people of Long Plain and Hoeppner's office would work together to see if this situation could be resolved.

As for the rest of the concerns that were presented at the town hall meeting, Hoeppner and her team collected all concerns raised, a practice Hoeppner stated keeps her in touch with her constituents.