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North Coast candidates announced in 2013 provincial election

North Coast candidates announced in 2013 provincial election

Last week, Premier Christy Clark asked Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon to dissolve parliament, marking the start of the provincial 28-day election campaign.

Leaders from the B.C. Liberal Party and the B.C. NDP are traveling far and wide across the province, announcing and re-affirming economic promises.

In the north, Premier Clark re-iterated her party plan for a provincial prosperity fund that would collect revenues from future liquefied natural gas exports.

Meanwhile, B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark promised a crowd in Terrace more money for resources communities if she is re-elected. Clark says a rural dividend program would give money back to communities that are resource producers.

“What happens is we negotiate some benefit back to the community so that they can pave the roads that are getting beat up by the trucks that go through their communities to support industry, so they can build the community centres so we can attract families to go and live and work in those communities,” said Clark.

The money would come from a Prosperity Fund, based on revenue from future LNG projects, Clark says.

NDP Leader Adrian Dix, who has said his campaign for premier won’t be overly flashy, delivered a lot of talk on policy during the first week.

Dix outlined the NDP’s economic and jobs plan, with a focus on skilled trades, and an education plan that would see more specialty teachers hired and daycare fees cut. Dix also said his aim is to give more money to low-income families and cut B.C.’s child poverty rate.

Locally, there are three candidates vying for your vote for North Coast MLA. Jennifer Rice is replacing incumbent NDP MLA Gary Coons, who has held the seat for the past two terms. Rice, a Prince Rupert city councilor who has a background in working with several environmental organizations, has been very active in the community of Prince Rupert for many years.

B.C. Liberal candidate Judy Fraser is a small business owner who sits on the Board of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority and is actively involved with the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, helping recruit and settle new doctors into the community.

Green Party candidate Hondo Arendt is a professor at Northwest Community College and has run for the party in the past.

In Bella Coola, you can vote in the advance polls from 8am to 8pm, May 8 – May 11, at the Service BC Centre in Bella Coola, located across from Townsite Tru Hardware on Cliff Street.

On May 14, you can vote at Bella Coola Elementary at 808 MacKay Street, and in Hagensborg at the Royal Canadian Legion, 855 Highway 20.