By Steve Hubrecht
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Kootenay-Columbia MP Rob Morrison made the rounds with local Kootenay media last week, calling local newspapers and radio stations throughout his riding. During his call with the Pioneer, Morrison talked about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting on the sub-topics of economic recovery, quarantine measures, places of worship and fallout in the tourism industry.

He outlined that, from what he’s hearing, people across his federal riding are breathing a sigh of collective relief as the vaccines are rolled out, and are looking forward to the easing of restrictions on social gatherings and other events. 

Morrison added he personally struggles with the idea of mandatory quarantine for anybody entering Canada, saying he thinks that if people entering Canada have negative COVID-19 tests, they should be allowed to enter the country without quarantining.

Morrison said he feels people should be allowed to gather in places of worship, as long as social distancing protocols are observed. “I’m pretty sure people being able to go to their church is helpful,” he said. “Yet they’re not allowed, even though people can be together shopping in big box stores.”

Morrison noted that the tourism industry is important to many communities in his riding, especially in Invermere. “We have so many jobs affected by tourism…I’m wondering why we don’t have rapid testing at the border,” he said, adding that if there was rapid testing at the border (people with a positive test would be required to quarantined, people with negative test could enter the country right away) it might help the tourism industry.

He added that he also feels the federal government should develop a program aimed specifically at helping out seniors, as they are the ones most affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.