By Rachel Fraser
The evening of October 9th saw all three candidates hoping to represent Prince George-Valemount in the provincial legislature gather for the opportunity to connect with local voters. Rosalyn Bird, running for the BC Conservatives, Gwen Johansson for the BC Greens and Clay Pountney for the BC NDP were available for a meet and greet in the lobby, followed by a moderated program in the Valemount Community Theatre.
Each candidate promised to use their voice for robust services in the Robson Valley – better health care, better connectivity, safer highways, thriving tourism, and better education.
They all agree that their main job is tireless advocacy for funds and resources to make it all the way from Victoria (and sometimes Ottawa) to the isolated North, and that creative local-led solutions are the best way forward.
The program was moderated by Valemount mayor Owen Torgerson, putting questions formulated by sponsors: the Rocky Mountain Goat News, the Valemount Area Chamber of Commerce, and Valemount Community Television.
Candidates’ opening remarks
Rosalyn Bird says she has a passion for community service. She is running because she’s seen an increase in government overreach. “The Charter of Rights and Freedoms are at risk.” She wants her grandchildren to be governed by a government that wants to unite people rather than divide them.
Gwen Johansson is concerned about the democratic process. “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” she quipped. Seeing the BC United Party dissolved, and its slate of democratically-selected candidates single-handedly unseated is one reason she put her name forward.
Clay Pountney says serving the Lheidli T’enneh in various community-building capacities, including as chief for a two-year term, led him to put his name forward so he could do the same at the provincial level. “It’s not just about down south. We need a big strong voice for up here.”
Tourism
In the aftermath of business losses from Jasper wildfires, what will you do to support our local tourism sector and how would you help small businesses build resilience to future natural disasters and potential highway closures?
Johansson – “The corporate entities that come into communities, whatever the resource is, whether it’s forestry, or oil and gas, or tourism, they will develop it their way. And then when it’s finished, then they’re gone.” She feels that policy should support local ideas and encourage small business owners to come and raise their children as part of the community.
Pountney – “There should be even more investment to attract people but attract them in the right way.” He wants to see tourism balanced with the environment and working with small businesses. He points out that managing wildfires and keeping communities safe is a big part of it.
Bird – “We need to make sure that we continue to have access to the backcountry.” Bird wants to protect Valley tourism with proper infrastructure, fire and forest management, and ensure small and medium businesses are protected and supported.
Health care and seniors
What strategies would you implement to attract and retain health care workers in our region? And what would you do to promote better care for seniors in the Robson Valley and Blue River?
Pountney – Pountney pointed out that the NDP are building an 11-storey hospital in Prince George, but satellite hospitals, and succession planning for rural regions is needed. Pountney mentioned funds being directed toward health care travel for seniors, and said we also need to be building supportive beds. “The seniors have built our province, and they deserve to have a great golden age.”
Bird – “Health care in our province is obviously in a crisis,” Bird said. She notes that we need a lot more health care professionals of all types, not just doctors and nurses. She cited the statistic that Canada has 10 times as many administrators as Germany, for half the population, and promised to push health spending forward to front line workers. She said the Conservatives have promised to make 5000 more care spaces available for seniors, and that she supports incentives to keep seniors in their own homes longer.
Johansson – The Greens have a comprehensive health system, based on the work of Jane Philpott, former federal health minister, Johansson said. She provided an analogy of public school catchment areas as a model. “That is what the Green Party plan is based on: you would have a central clinic [with] a defined geographical area… obliged to provide services to everybody.That way you make sure that everybody has a family doctor.” Johansson says the Greens’ focus is on assistance for seniors to age in place, and also plan to provide seniors with travel grants and buses for health-related travel.
Highway safety, upgrades, maintenance
With the growing number of fatalities on Highways 5 and 16, how will you advocate for highway upgrades and better highway maintenance on our provincial roadways?
Johansson – Johansson referenced a plan compiled by the three BC United MLAs representing Highway 5 from Kamloops to Valemount as the place to start, since the work has already been done. Three passing lanes, improved signage and sightlines and enhanced trucking safety are among the recommendations. “They also have made one observation, which I think is really important, and that is to tighten up the training and the enforcement of the long-haul truckers.”
Pountney – Highway 5 is now a dangerous goods route, Pountney said. He agrees it needs more passing lanes, and that connectivity is a big contributor. If something happens, there are long stretches with no cell service. “The BC NDP by 2027 is connecting all major highways with cell service,” he said.
Bird – “The single largest reason for fatalities and accidents on that highway is traffic violations and it’s speeding.” However, according to ICBC, distracted driving is the top cause of fatal incidents, followed by speeding. Bird would like to see an immediate increase in enforcement, with potentially a pilot project empowering CVSE to be able to enforce traffic violations. She feels photo radar may be necessary to get people to slow down, or even creating a new highway patrol division.
Connectivity
What will you do to expand cell phone coverage in remote areas and bring improved Internet connectivity and speeds to our region?
Pountney – “This is happening right now. Under the BC NDP, by 2027 every rural community will be connected, with fiber and cell service.”
Bird – “With remote communities, we need these [reliable, fast connections] to improve our education… to improve our health care services, because we can’t always have something on the ground.” Bird sees connectivity as critical to connecting families, and businesses with their markets.
Johansson – As Mayor of Hudson’s Hope, Johansson worked with Telus to get high speed in their community, and feels you can get things done “when you have a concerted effort from a community that is working together, do the research and they present not just what the problem is but what the solution is.” She feels a good reliable internet service will attract remote workers, a solution to losing population from the small towns.
Education
How will you advocate for more funding for schools in our area and what will you do to help bridge the divide between financial support for rural and urban schools?
Bird – “I think when it comes to education, it’s about finding creative and new solutions.” Bird spoke to dropping student populations, and not having tutors and resources for students to move on to post-secondary education. Collaboration and persistence are needed to bring those to Northern communities.
Johansson – As a former teacher in small schools, Johansson believes in attracting teachers who want to be there and can wear a lot of hats to remote communities. She sees correspondence as a good option if there are educators available to support. She notes that kids in small schools learn leadership because they have to, and educating kids is key to educated adults coming back to the community.
Pountney – “Education is one of our biggest investments.” He says the NDP is promising that counsellors will be funded and that EAs will be in every classroom. Pountney believes rural incentives are needed to bring the right people into the school where they are needed.
Candidates also fielded multiple questions from the audience. The full recording can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/live/qjUgDLOYTdQ.
Election day is October 19th. Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Find out where you can vote at https://wheretovote.elections.bc.ca/.
