MP Kyle Seeback hosts Community Barbecue for Dufferin-Caledon residents

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Dufferin–Caledon MP Kyle Seeback hosted a community barbecue this past weekend at the Bolton Fairgrounds to give the community an opportunity to grab some food, meet their neighbours, and talk to Seeback about the issues that matter to them.

The barbecue attracted quite a large crowd, with over 400 participants pre-registered for the event.

More people poured in, with open registration available at check-in.

Seeback was met with a long lineup of residents and community members eager to discuss the problems on their minds.

Some came prepared with just a few talking points, some held letters and notebooks filled with concerns.

And some didn't come alone.

Daniel Alves, a Bolton Resident, brought his son to the barbecue with him.

“I just want to teach my boy the value of taking an interest in politics. I think it's really important to know who represents us in Ottawa,” shared Alves.

He shared he was looking forward to discussing the economic state of the country with Seeback.

“I'm going to have a chat with him, see what he can do, but I know his powers are limited at this point,” shared Alves.

Seeback told The Citizen that seeing residents with their handwritten notes was a “first.”

“It really shows me how difficult a time people are having. But talking to people about their issues is one of the most important parts of my job. I go to Ottawa to fight for the people I represent. To do that, I have to know the issues that matter to them and this was a great way to hear from so many people,” he shared.

Seeback said there was a wide variety of things people wished to discuss with him.

“People talked about how expensive everything is, how going to the grocery store used to be fun and now it's stressful and they're shocked at how much their weekly groceries cost,” he says.

The high cost of living wasn't the only topic top of mind that day.

“A lot of people talked about crime and fixing bail. Many were outraged that the drunk driver who hit Gabriel Arshad was out on bail and had five previous convictions for drunk driving,” said Seeback.

Seeback has recently begun a petition to demand bail reform, which was available to sign at the barbecue.

“We're calling for urgent action to fix the broken bail system and keep our communities safe.

The federal government must: Repeal Liberal Bill C-75, which mandates Police officers and Judges to consider the ‘least onerous conditions' when making release decisions. Keep violent repeat offenders off our streets. Put the safety of our communities ahead of repeat offenders,” reads the petition online.

Upon hearing many residents share their feelings around bail reform, Seeback shared he was “really proud of our community.”

“They've really rallied behind Gabriel Arshad and his family and are demanding bail reform. The drunk driver who hit him should have been in jail. There's been overwhelming support for my bail reform petition and I really hope Mark Carney and the Liberals fix bail. They can with a very simple change. I cannot for the life of me understand why they haven't,” says Seeback.