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From YouTube: OCTOBER 26 2021 Statements Roly Russell
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
A
few
years
ago
I
found
myself
in
the
world
of
community
economic
development
a
critically
important
focus,
especially
for
the
new
rural
economy,
on
our
horizon.
In
that
space,
there's
a
strategy
developed
by
the
new
economics
foundation
called
plugging
the
leaks
at
its
core.
It's
an
idea
that
for
local
economies
to
thrive,
we
need
not
just
a
focus
on
bringing
new
resources
into
our
communities,
but
optimizing
what
assets
we
already
have.
A
This
focuses
on
regenerating
our
local
economies
from
within
and
leveraging
the
great
assets
already
resident
in
rural
bc,
and,
while
covid
has
been
brutal
for
so
many
and
for
so
long
it
certainly
temporarily
plugged
some
of
our
major
economic
lease
leaks
in
rural
bc,
while
our
international
border
was
closed.
For
example,
we
saw
some
businesses
in
our
border
towns,
such
as
clothing,
retail
and
hardware,
ending
up
with
record
sales
numbers,
staffing
was
tough,
mental
health
was
tough
and
uncertainty
was
tough,
but
the
financial
statements
were
good.
A
Money
was
flowing
likewise,
some
local
food
supply
chains,
able
to
be
nimble,
have
done
very
well.
The
kettle
valley,
food
co-op,
for
example,
saw
300
percent
increase
in
sales
tied
to
their
ability
to
pivot,
to
food
delivery
and
increase
demand
for
local
food.
Indeed
we're
seeing
example
here
of
triple
bottom
line
benefits.
A
We
have
the
potential
to
redesign
supply
chains
with
our
economy,
nutrition
and
human
health
in
mind.
In
rural
bc,
we
saw
the
resilience
of
shorter,
fairer
and
cleaner
supply
chains
that
address
local
priorities.
So
we
have
a
choice
ahead
of
us.
We
can
return
to
the
path
we
were
on
or
we
can
actively
work
to
retain
these
glimmers
of
hope
that
have
shown
through
the
covet
gloom.
Shortening
supply
chains
and
supporting
local
businesses
can
serve
as
a
triple
win
supporting
resilient
economic
systems,
local
entrepreneurs
and
reducing
environmental
impacts
and
building
social
community
connections.