Toporowski prepares for new role as Cowichan Valley's MLA

Debra Toporowski, who was elected as the Cowichan Valley’s NDP MLA in the provincial election in October, is busy getting her ducks in a row for when the provincial legislature reconvenes on Feb. 18.

But Toporowski, who was a two-term elected councillor in the municipality of North Cowichan and a five-time councillor for Cowichan Tribes before resigning from those positions after her election as MLA, said she already has many connections in the the community through her roles in local governments over the years and is familiar with many of the issues in her riding, so she feels that she’s off to a good running start.

However, she acknowledges that working at the provincial level in dealing with her constituents’ issues is a new challenge for her, and she’s been busy since the election learning the ropes of doing her new job.

“It’s certainly a steep learning curve but I’ve been getting lots of support from the legislature,” said Toporowski, who has also served as the constituency assistant for both retired NDP MLA’s Doug Routley and Bill Routley.

“For the first time, all the 57 new MLAs from all the parties attended ther same ‘MLA school’ after the election where we learned what is expected of us and it was a good opportunity to get to know my colleagues. They all certainly have different personalities, but I found them to be a great bunch of people.”

As for her new Conservative colleagues, which account for 44 seats in the new legislature compared to 47 NDP seats and two Green, Toporowski said she found them friendly during MLA school and is confident that she and her party will be able to work with them.

“I’m hopeful there will be opportunities to collaborate and work together to find common ground and make B.C. a better place for everyone,” she said. “I’m open to work with anyone to accomplish that.”

Toporowski said she’s excited to be appointed the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health in the new NDP government as she feels she can bring a lot to the role.

Before the election, she has worked with the Our Cowichan Communities Health Network, which is a group of organizations and individuals that work to improve health and well-being in the Cowichan Valley, as well as the Health Advisory Committee for Cowichan Tribes, so she believes she has a lot of experience that can assist the health ministry.

Toporowski said it’s still early in her new mandate as the MLA for the Cowichan Valley, but she wants the community to know that she’s a willing and open listener and will always be there for people to talk to.

“I’m really looking forward to my new role and I’ve been preparing since the election to get the tools I need to do the best job I can for my constituents,” she said.
“I want to continue the hard work that John Horgan [the former NDP premier of B.C. who died on Nov. 12, 2024] started. He left a real legacy in the community and I want to carry on with that sort of style he had in connecting with people so well.”

Toporowki said she is setting up her constituency office at 212-80 Station St. in Duncan, the same office that was occupied by Sonia Furstenau, the Cowichan Valley’s former Green MLA.

“We’re in the process of finalizing the lease, and the office will be open soon," she said.