The audience at the April 24 provincial election candidates’ forum made up for in civility what it lacked in numbers. Fewer than 100 were in attendance to question and listen to the three declared candidates for the May 14 election.
Sponsored by Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce, the forum was run by Creston Valley Toastmasters.
Incumbent Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall, representing the New Democratic Party, was flanked on stage by Liberal Party candidate Greg Garbula and the Green Party’s Sjeng Derkx. All three reside in Nelson.
After the candidate drew lots to determine the speaking order, Garbula outlined his personal background. He focused on the need for a strong provincial economy from which health, education and social services can improve as more taxation rolls into government coffers.
He has no ambition to be a cabinet minister, he said, preferring to focus on constituents and “taking care of our region.”
Mungall, who was elected four years ago to succeed previous MLA Corky Evans, said that even in opposition the NDP has done “what some thought would be nearly impossible to achieve.”
She cited stopping the Glacier and Hauser Creek independent power projects, getting attention for the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, making some changes to the DriveAble program that assesses the ability of seniors to drive vehicles and maintaining 24-hour emergency medical services for Kaslo.
An NDP government, she said, would put an additional $100 million each into education and forestry, promote agriculture and stop the Enbridge pipeline project and the Jumbo Glacier Resort. Another $100 million would be earmarked for needs-based grants to address the skilled labour shortage.
More focus will be put on providing care for seniors in their own homes.
An Adrian Dix-led government will mean “change for the better, one practical step at a time,” she said.
Derkx described his Green Party as “fiscally conservative and socially progressive.”
Green Party MLAs will always put constituents first, the province second and the party third, he said.
His party accepts donations from individuals only, to a maximum of $2,000, and not from large corporations or unions.
He was adamant that expanding exports of liquid natural gas through fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is inviting environmental disaster as trillions of litres of water will be required and aquifers polluted.
“As soon as big companies have their foot in the fracking door in the North they will own us,” he said.
With Nelson-Creston ranking 84th out of 85 constituencies in family incomes, there is much work to be done.
“Things are not well here,” he said. “We can do better. … I will put my heart and soul into Nelson-Creston.”