Before he was an MLA, Rob Fleming was a student politician. Representing the Victoria-Swan Lake area as a New Democrat MLA since being elected and re-elected in 2005 and 2009 respectively, Fleming has had a natural interest in politics that started in high school (he was later elected a student union representative during his post-secondary years).
“My experiences at Camosun and UVic are invaluable,” says Fleming, “those experiences kindled my interest in politics.”
Fleming’s first accomplishment occurred when he became chair of the UVic Student Society (UVSS). He worked to improve public transit to Camosun and UVic and negotiated to get student bus passes. You know that little plastic card in your wallet that you swipe to get on the bus every morning and go to class? You can thank Fleming for that one.
Fleming is also the environmental critic for his party. The NDP is against the proposed pipeline and believes the province–as a non-partisan decision–will never approve such a project due to environmental risks, according to Fleming. “The NDP will never support a pipeline,” says Fleming.
No city is without problems; Victoria has several issues to deal with. Among these issues, the city faces an infrastructure obstacle. Fleming says Victoria would benefit greatly from a light rail transit system (LRT).
“I’ve always been a proponent of LRT,” says Fleming, “the benefit of LRT greatly outweighs the cost. For the first time ever, BC transit (as a crown corporation) has recommended to the minister of transportation that LRT is the preferred technology of transportation when the capital region is ready to make a decision on this issue.”
Improving public transportation is an issue the city must operate around, but Fleming also believes part of the problem comes down to several municipalities being divided on issues.
“There is a case to be made for better structure that’s more responsive,” says Fleming, “the problem with being so split up in 13 municipalities is that we don’t speak with one voice on infrastructure and we don’t appear to have a big enough population to have so many municipalities, despite the fact that we’re considered a major Canadian city. There’re big opportunity costs and prices to pay for being so divided.”
There’s no telling when or if LRT will ever become a reality in Victoria; for now, Fleming has an upcoming election to win and a seat to keep in the next few months.
The MLA is optimistic that his party will win the provincial election in May and he says he looks forward to getting down to work and serving the public needs.