Where do we go from here in terms of our economy in the Kootenays? First things first: the only way to go from here is up. We have $2.5 billion of investment that is coming in the resort industry in the Kootenays.

This means there are lots of things that are going right but there are issues that we are still facing. We have to still deal with issues in the cattle and forest industries, especially right here in the East Kootenay.

There are challenges with success, as well as challenges with failure. I prefer the ones with success, and I think this part of the province will be very successful over the next 10 to 20 years.

How are the Kootenays going to take advantage of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler? The world is going to discover the Kootenays when they come to discover British Columbia in 2010. This creates enormous opportunities and some pressure. For example, the Kimberley Alpine Resort is growing, Fernie is growing, Panorama and Kicking Horse are growing. The world is coming here, and I can tell you, I travel all over British Columbia and there are a few places in this province that are attractive places to live in like the Kootenays. I think after 2010, you are going to handle the growth pressures from B.C., Alberta and international visitors.

With such an economic boom being seen in China, how will the Kootenays take advantage of that? The way we are going to take advantage of it is to recognize that there is a strong market, invest in transportation infrastructure to deliver our resources to that marketplace and then we want to add value to that marketplace.

Speaking of the 2010 Olympics, by 2020 there will be 100 million Chinese tourists that will be looking around the world and Canada now has an approved destination status. Where would you like to go if you were a Chinese tourist? I think you would like to go to find out what the Kootenays have to offer. You would also like to go to a place that you feel comfortable in. So you might want to look into the Kootenays for developing Mandarin language programs, so when they come here you can speak to them in their language.

How often do you visit the Kootenays? I love it here and this is a part of British Columbia that everyone would love to spend more time in. This is a spectacular place and I remember coming out to Windermere windsurfing with some friends of mine.

When I drove up the road and saw the hoodoos for the first time, I thought, "those are spectacular." I absolutely love this place.