Op-ed: MP Burton Bailey on ‘delivering results’ during first weeks in office
As Parliament rises for the summer, I want to update the people of Red Deer on my work as your Member of Parliament.
It has been an incredible honour to stand in the House of Commons on your behalf. When I stood on the floor of the House of Commons for the first time, it was with a deep sense of duty I felt to represent every single Red Deerian – urban or rural, regardless of political stripe – with honour, integrity, and unwavering dedication.
From my first day in Ottawa, I have focused on the issues I heard at your doors: affordability, housing, crime, and health care. These are not just political talking points – they are real challenges affecting families in our community every day.
Red Deer recently received $12 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. This is an important step towards addressing our city’s housing needs. However, while this funding is welcome, it comes with strings attached, requiring communities to have blanket zoning, which doesn’t work in Red Deer. I am working with Red Deer City Council to advocate for the Minister of Housing to find a way to ensure that Red Deer neighbourhoods maintain their sense of community.


