The Writ has dropped: Let the battle of the conservatives begin
It’s a two-party race in most of BC since Kevin Falcon torched his BC United (Liberal) party less than a month ago, but not in Peace River North. The BC NDP can’t even be bothered to field a candidate up here – ignoring our existence as usual.
It was clear that this election was going to be interesting when the BC Conservatives rose from the ashes to challenge the NDP and BC United for the privilege of forming government. Now that it’s back to a two-party race, with the addition of approximately 29 independent candidates scattered throughout the province, it’s sure to be a nail-biter, with the two remaining major parties currently pretty much tied in the polls.
What we have in the North is a nail-biter of a different sort. A battle between two conservatives – Jordan Kealy, a local farmer, Peace River Regional District director, a newcomer to provincial politics and candidate for the Conservative Party of British Columbia; and Dan Davies, MLA since 2017, former teacher and city councillor, former BC United candidate and self-professed fiscal conservative.
Two conservatives, duking it out for our votes on October 19th.
When John Rustad took the helm of the BC Conservatives and began re-building the party, it was interesting to see that both he and Kevin Falcon’s freshly rebranded BC United (Liberals) were calling for the same changes, promoting the same policies.
Even though Falcon folded up his party tent and left his candidates without a political home, Davies is still in favour of many of his former party’s policies. Policies that are largely echoed by Kealy as the BC Conservative Party candidate.
Fixing Northern Health. Parental Choice in Education. Housing for Seniors. Mental Health and Addictions Treatment. Ending Catch and Release. Smaller Government. Working with the Natural Resource Industry to Improve the Economy.
And building a new Peace River Bridge at Taylor.
So regardless of who wins in Peace River North – Kealy or Davies – they’ll be advocating for these things, and any other issues we voters consider important. Because Rustad has said his MLAs will put their constituents ahead of the party, and Davies has no party to limit his ability to advocate for constituents.
Each candidate is determined to do what’s best for the Peace, for the region that they call home, all that’s left for us voters is to listen to each one and decide who best fits our vision of the Peace and British Columbia after October 19.
But everyone needs to get out and vote.
The voter turnout in the last election was terrible. Yes, the election was held in the middle of the pandemic, and no doubt that limited the turnout, but of the 26,216 registered voters in Peace River North, only 12,184 voted. Forty-six percent of those registered to do so. Less than 50 percent of registered voters. Despite the pandemic, that number wasn’t much different than the 2017 provincial election, where just 56 percent of voters actually voted.
Both times the NDP won.
My mother always said that if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.
There are a lot of unhappy people in BC right now, because of the decisions the current government has made, decisions that have worsened our social issues, driven up our taxes, costs us jobs, kept us on waiting lists for treatments, closed our ER’s . . . the list goes on.
The NDP isn’t going to change a thing if they get re-elected. British Columbians need to make the change, by getting out and voting on October 19.
I’m betting this election will be a close one in Peace River North. A true nail-biter. With each candidate advocating for nearly identical changes, it could be tough to choose who to vote for.
So, Jordan and Dan, convince me who I should vote for.
How are you going to advocate for the needs of the people of Peace River North? How can we communicate the needs of our communities to you, so you can bring those concerns to Victoria after October 19?
What are you going to do about the homelessness, the ER closures, the lack of doctors and nurses, the people who have mental health and addiction issues who can’t get the treatment when they want or need it? What are you going to do about the economy in the North? What about education – some of our schools are bursting at the seams, we need more spaces for students.
How much longer will we have to wait for a new Taylor Bridge? It probably has more welds than original material by now, so its days are numbered.
Convince me and everyone who is eligible to vote this year, who to vote for. Show us who the best choice to represent us is.
People want to see change, and you two are the ones who’ve signed up to advocate for that change on our behalf.
People of Peace River North, make that change happen, by voting for whoever your choice is – don’t worry about vote-splitting, or any of the other fearmongering tactics that always come out during an election.
When you know who you want to represent you in Victoria, the candidate who’s going to best represent your interests and make a case for the changes you want to see, cast a ballot for that person.
C’mon guys, convince me who to vote for . . . and let the battle of the conservatives begin.