South Cariboo residents got to quiz the four nominees seeking to become the Conservative Party of BC candidate for the Cariboo-Chilcotin riding last Saturday.
The event, held at the 100 Mile Community Hall, was originally supposed to feature John Rustad, the leader of the Conservative Party of BC. However, he could reportedly not attend the meeting following several interviews with the media that day following B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon published the details of an agreement the two parties had been considering on Friday, May 24.
The agreement would have divided up B.C. between the two parties to avoid splitting the right-leaning voter, with both parties agreeing not to run candidates against incumbent members of the other party in October. With the BC Conservatives outperforming BC United in recent polls, Falcon said Rustad has declined the deal.
In Rustad’s absence, those who attended the meeting in 100 Mile House got to meet the men who have put their names forward as potential Conservative candidates for Cariboo-Chilcotin: Peter Bond, Al Jean, Glenn Ford and Dan Parker. All four candidates fielded questions and gave answers from an audience of around 90 people. The Free Press asked them how voices from communities like 100 Mile House will be represented if they become an MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin.
“The way I would represent you is by sitting there and actually…coming up with the discussions. Having the different areas where people come and meet - you know, I mean it’s hard to meet every individual person, but to have it in a group like this, I mean is awesome in of itself,” Bond said.
Parker, the owner of South Cariboo Excavating and a resident of Lone Butte, is thrilled that the Conservatives have become a relevant political force again in BC politics: the last time they had even marginal relevance was 2013 - when then-MLA John Cummins quit the BC Liberals, now BC United, to lead the party. Parker says that the party is needed to engage those who have not participated in the electoral process in years.
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“It’s exciting for this province - a lot of people have had their votes shelved. They haven’t been able to make the statement or representation that they’ve needed and wanted and craved - there is an option now.”
One supporter of the Conservatives who attended the meeting was Laurie Spencer who said she agrees with what the party stands for. When asked to give an example, she talked about her view on healthcare workers.
“I’d like to see our unvaccinated healthcare workers be offered their jobs back so that we can have more doctors and nurses to help out our community,” Spencer said.
Spencer blames both the BC NDP and the BC United parties, who have governed BC back and forth since 1991, for creating a “broken system” of healthcare, which she says is the “number one issue for my family and friends.”
“My biggest grievance is no access to easy healthcare - we have three daughters, they can’t get personal doctors, they have to go to clinics and the emergency room and wait,” Spencer said. “My dad has a heart issue, he’s had to wait twice in emergency for nine hours before getting service - this isn’t what I grew up with in BC. It’s been gradually getting worse and the last two governments over the last 20 years have done nothing.”
Jenny Bakken, another community member who attended the meeting, supports the Conservatives because of their “common sense.” Bakken said that “time is of the essence” and that if the Conservatives do not win a majority government in the 2024 BC election, scheduled for October 19, she will move out of the province.
“I believe if it doesn’t happen, we’re going to continue with more of the same, and it’s going to continue to get worse and (life) will get more expensive,” Bakken said. “I’m not sure if I’ll continue to stay in BC.”
Bakken echoed Parkers’ sentiments about the resurgence of the party and said it would help increase voter turnout.
“More people will come to vote rather than what we’ve been presented to us for the last 30 years in this riding.”
