So far incumbent Liberal MLA Jordan Sturdy and the Green Party’s Dana Taylor have thrown in their hats for the provincial general election set for May 9. They are joined by independent Tristan Galbraith.
Whether the Conservatives will run locally is up in the air due to current lack of leadership, but where is the NDP? As of press time, they don’t have a candidate running in our riding, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
Squamish’s neighbouring riding, West Vancouver-Capilano, has an NDP candidate like most other areas in B.C. We’re all eagerly waiting for ours, whether we agree with the NDP’s vision or not.
Last week, the provincial government announced 30 new campsites and a much anticipated larger parking lot at Stawamus Chief Park. While good news, many campers are left frustrated each summer due to not being able to afford a local campsite because of tour companies reselling them to tourists. There have already been steps to correct this, and it would have been beneficial to be able to ask our local NDP nominee if the party will live up to its promise of giving British Columbians first pick of campsites.
This is just one example, and likely not the most important to many people. What about the NDP’s promise for more mental health resources – will there be funding for mental health beds in Squamish (see page A1)? And financially-strapped parents want to hear from their local candidate how many families in Squamish will benefit from the $10 a day childcare plan.
The Chief has featured our current MLA and the independent candidate over the last two weeks and will be running a Q&A with the Green Party nominee next week. We’ve asked hot-topic questions so our readers can get to know them better and, hopefully, this will make more informed votes. We want to be able to continue to do this – and we will when the NDP makes its announcement. But, even if the candidate is announced tomorrow, our readers won’t have much time to get to know him or her.
In an email to The Chief last week, a spokesperson for the NDP said a candidate hasn’t been confirmed yet, but will be soon. No firm date was given but it must be before the deadline on April 18. Like in most ridings throughout B.C., it doesn’t look like a Conservative candidate will be nominated.
Advanced voting begins April 29 and general voting day is slated for May 9. Visit www.elections.bc.ca to register to vote.
