Nearly four months after officially taking office, rookie Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen has now set up his official offices in Ottawa and Barrhead.
As the Peace River-Westlock riding’s first MP, the Barrhead-area native said locating his constituency office near his hometown made the most sense.
“I wanted it located near where I live, so it’s easy for me to get to. That’s probably the biggest reason why it’s there,” said Viersen.
“I just need a base to store the files, have computers, have phone lines and that sort of thing.”
Viersen, who is also the deputy rural affairs critic, opted to move the constituency office from Westlock where former Westlock-St. Paul MP Brian Storseth was stationed, as well as in St. Paul.
He said his staff is able to help constituents with an array of issues including immigration, passport, Canadian Pension Plan and Employment Insurance.
“Most of that can be dealt with over the phone,” he said.
With his office located in Barrhead, Viersen assured his constituents it wouldn’t confine him to the area.
“Where my office is shouldn’t really affect where I am,” he said.
“I need a base to start from, but I plan to be available throughout the riding and that continues to be my plan.
“I’m hoping to set up a network of contacts throughout the riding.”
The majority of the time, Viersen is in Ottawa and can be reached at his is office on Parliament Hill.
For the time being, the MP says he will continue to serve the 106,000 square-kilometre riding with the Barrhead office, without adding a satellite office elsewhere in the riding.
“Generally, I have a pretty good working relationship with a lot of the other elected officials,” he said.
“If I need office space to hold a meeting or something like that, I’m anticipating being able to rely on the charity and goodwill of some of the folks I’ve met around the riding.
“Up until this point, it hasn’t been an issue.”
The new MP said he’s still working his way around the riding and meeting his colleagues.
“I’m hoping to take in as many events as I can throughout the riding and meet with all the elected officials in the riding,” Viersen said.
“That in an of itself is a significant task.”
