Local Conservative Party of BC candidates formally kicked off their campaigns in Cranbrook with party leader John Rustad and supporters during a rally in Cranbrook on Tuesday afternoon.
Rustad stumped with Pete Davis (Kootenay-Rockies). Scott McInnis (Columbia River - Revelstoke) and Kelly Vandenberghe (Kootenay-Central) in front of sign-waving supporters at the bandstand, touching on various Conservative themes in his address.
"British Columbia has everything you could ever want. We have all the resources we want, We've got a well trained, well educated population," Rustad said. "There's so much that we could do, but we're hopelessly managed, and that's what needs to change. We have to be able to strip out all this bureaucracy, we have to unleash our potential, and most importantly we have to make sure we're focused on keeping our young people here in this province so that they can build a future."
He ran through various elements of the Conservative platform, such as streamlining the mine permitting process, supporting the forestry and agriculture sectors, the 'Rustad Rebate' — the Conservative plan to write off up to $3,000 a month on rent or a mortgage — eliminating the carbon tax, and ending safe supply and decriminalization.
Both Davis and McInnis also gave brief addresses talking up their local campaigns.
"If you guys are ready for change, if you are ready for something different, if you're ready for new policies, if you're ready for a new party, if you're ready for a new MLA — I am your guy," Davis said. "I am your guy that's going to make the change."
McInnis said Rustad understands the province's rural issues.
"That's really really important to me, to the people in our riding, I know that's important to everybody in Kootenay-Rockies; he know's what's important to rural British Columbia," McInnis said.
Voters will head to the polls on Oct. 19.
