By Stockwell Day

Here's some items that will perk you up. Stuff that shows we must be doing some things right, right here in B.C.

First, at the start of almost every meeting I have with a minister or business person from another country they invariably mention two things right off the top. One, that the United Nations rates Vancouver as the best city in the world in which to live and two, that the World Economic Forum rates our banking system as the best and most stable in the world.

Think about that. Powerful, positive facts about Canada that, are broadly known and broadcast worldwide without using your taxes to do it. When I'm making the case for why to invest in Canada it sure helps to have had our reputation go before us. I can tell you, in this present global recession where investors are a tad nervous our relatively stable situation is definitely working for us.

Here's some more good info that may literally be music to your ears. What do Paul Brandt, Kenny Chesney, Pam Tillis, the Steve Miller Band, Emerson Drive, George Canyon and Stockwell Day all have in common?

Give up? Here's the answer. We're all going to be right here in the riding in Merritt for the Mountainfest Music Festival between July 9 and 12.

Don't worry, I won't be singing with any of them but as the Member of Parliament for the area I'll be meeting and greeting the thousands of visitors (over 60,000 actually) and thanking them for the millions they'll be spending into our local economy. That's another big boost without the need for taxpayer dollars.

Now let me really surprise you with some amazing news about new advances in the delivery of public services to the tax-paying population.

Several days ago I toured a new Government Services office. It was open to the public and doing a brisk business. Its advertised motto was "60/24/7." It was explained to me that it stood for a new concept in the provision of services to citizens.

It stands for the bold proclamation that any needed permits, licenses, papers or services will be delivered there in the office within 60 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All of the government workers in the Service Centre have received cross-training in all departments so that the customer will never hear "Sorry, not my department."

All senior officials, including deputy ministers and the executive director himself, have to spend a certain number of hours every month out from behind their office desks working the reception counters. This is so they can see and hear first hand exactly what the taxpaying customers think about the service they are getting.

I have found generally that most public servants want to do a good job and want to take care of people as well as possible.

I have to admit, this new office definitely takes service to the public to a whole new level. Oh, if you're wondering where you can find it you may have to wait awhile for the concept to catch on in your neighbourhood. It's located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

But don't despair. Good ideas have a way of catching on. Stay tuned.

Stockwell Day is the member of Parliament for Okanagan Coquihalla and the federal minister of international trade.