Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen paid a visit to Portage last week to get a feel for the current problems constituents are facing with the complex array of national issues that we're feeling in our own backyards.

(L-R) Cindy McDonald, Shawn Roulette, Kyle Pettinger and Candice Bergen

"I met a couple of small businesses as well as the not-for-profit, and then wrapped up my set of meetings meeting with the outgoing and the new presidents of the Chamber of Portage la Prairie," explains Bergen. "I really wanted to get a sense of where small business was at considering the lockdowns, the openings and then locking down again, and what business owners are thinking and feeling. And I can tell you, it's a pretty consistent message right across the board in Portage la Prairie."

Bergen says one of her stops was with Prairie City Cinema owners David and Carmel Mulaire.

"These folks tell me their stories," says Bergen. "In the case of David and Carmel and the theatre, they told me about how grandma and grandpa owned the theatre, his mom and dad owned it, and how he and Carmel got into the business. It was a really inspiring and interesting story and they're just such an important part of the community. But this pandemic and the lockdowns have really hit them hard, and they've been trying to think outside the box, be positive and do their best to keep the business going. But they said, 'Candice, we don't want to live or go forward just on government supports. We want to be able to have people come in in a safe and responsible way and enjoy the amenities and enjoy the theatre.' And they're prepared to do that."

Bergen says she knows they're working with the province, but adds she's hearing consistent remarks about how there needs to be some benchmarks for openings that just aren't there. She explains they want to hear from the Prime Minister about when they can open once people are vaccinated.

"We're seeing the U.S. starting to open up and plans for opening up, and I think people are just tired of not knowing," adds Bergen. "Even with the vaccines with rapid testing, and with treatments, when will we start to open up and end these destructive and harmful lockdowns?"

She notes the stories are confirming what they've been talking about as the Conservative party.

Candice Bergen and Adrienne Hofer"I then also met with Adrienne Hofer over at Styled With Meraki, which is a really cool salon," notes Bergen. "This young woman is so entrepreneurial and so positive. She has been bringing people in, mentoring new stylists and new aestheticians and serving the community kind of at every price level, which I think is just such a wonderful thing. And she's been able to get through the pandemic in a fairly strong way, but I know she would like to see, as well, just an ability to expand and grow her business."

Stefanie McKim with Candice Bergen

Bergen notes she then met with the team at Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment.

"I met with Stefanie (McKim) over at the Art Gallery," adds Bergen. "Again, it was just another, bit of a difficult story of how Stefanie and Lee at the Art Gallery have been trying to keep things going, keep people connected through art, but never knowing when lockdowns are going to come again."

She says she completed those meetings by visiting with the Chamber and the past and present presidents who expressed a couple of things.

"First of all, they're very proud of Portage la Prairie," says Bergen. "All of these businesses are all examples of people who grew up in Portage and have either stayed in Portage or have come back to Portage in order to start their business and raise their families. Both the outgoing and incoming presidents talked about how proud they are of the community and the city of Portage and the people there, but they were also expressing their frustration with not knowing when the lockdowns were going to end. They're just looking for some data on what's driving some of the decisions around the lockdowns."

Bergen explains that, overall, businesses just want to move forward.

"They're wanting to open up -- they're wanting to serve the public," says Bergen. "I, for one, am just really pushing so that we can to find an end to the lockdown. I know the provinces are making the decisions that our premier's making -- the decisions he feels as best. We're just pushing the Prime Minister to get these vaccines out. Let's get rapid testing accessible, and then let's set some dates so that people have hope, we know the lockdowns are going to end, and we're going to be able to get back to some kind of normal."

On a lighter-hearted note, Bergen adds she also spent time at a local elementary school.

Candice Bergen with Dylan Wilson

"A really great part of the day was when I started out my day at La Verendrye School and I met with Dylan Wilson," continues Bergen. "Dylan is an 11-year-old student who has Down syndrome. He works on a really cool mechanism that can help him read and communicate. So, we took some pictures and then Dylan was a little shy at first but he really opened up and he interviewed me. He's been interviewed quite a bit over the last few weeks and months, and he wanted to do the interviewing, so he interviewed me and we just had a great time."

She notes it's good to see the work that teachers and support staff are doing during the pandemic.