MP Pat Davidson discusses how different a majority government can be

Business, Feature, Sarnia — By JD Booth on June 10, 2012 at 9:34 am

More than a full year into being a member of a majority federal government, Sarnia-Lambton MP Pat Davidson sat down with LambtonShield.com Editor and Publisher j.D. Booth to discuss just how different serving in that government has been for the longstanding local politician.

Reflecting on a year that she says has been "interesting," Davidson said one of the most significant differences is at the level that only the most ardent viewers of the legislative process might appreciate—Parliamentary committees.

Davidson said one of those areas of emphasis which she was able to put forward is a study on the effect of invasive species in the Great Lakes, particularly but not exclusive to the Asian Carp.

Davidson is on the Fisheries and Oceans committee as well as the Ethics and Access to information committee and Privacy.

It's on the issue of privacy that Davidson and her colleagues will be discussing as they talk about Google and Facebook. "Next week" in Davidson's comments has already passed.

Davidson acknowledged that the area needs something that will generate the kind of economic energy that the petrochemical sector had when Sarnia-Lambton was growing in leaps and bounds. She sees that being the bioindustrial sector.

The MP also said the federal government will be looking closely at future opportunities for helping the sector.

Davidson, as the federal representative for the area, says she continually "talks up" the Sarnia-Lambton area, even as she acknowledges that it's some times an uphill battle.

The economy remains a key priority, especially as the world goes through a continuing series of challenges and this area is not immune from those pressures.