Nicholas Simons will seek his third term as MLA for Powell River - Sunshine Coast in the next provincial election after the New Democrats acclaimed him as their candidate last Saturday.
Simons accepted the nomination at a meeting of the Sunshine Coast NDP Constituency Asso-ciation at the Gibsons United Church Aug. 27.
"I'm really pleased to be the candidate again," Simons said. "I think there is a lot of work to be done. Things are changing in this province and across this country. To be part of politics when we are making sure we are respectful and open minded, I think that is a good sign for politics and I'm just glad to be a part of it and glad that the party here in the riding of Powell River - Sunshine Coast has confidence in me to continue.
"I'm very grateful for their support."
The next provincial election is slated for 2013, but speculation continues to suggest that Liberal Premier Christy Clark will call an election well before that.
Simons said whenever the election is called, he would be ready.
"We don't know what the premier's agenda is," Simons said. "We know she is getting advice from lots of different people, but it's good for our party to be prepared and have its candidates lined up for whenever the election call is. People have been speculating that there would be a fall election, now they're talking spring, but everyone is just guessing because no one really knows.
"It will probably just come down to whether the premier thinks that she and her team are in a place where they can be competitive."
Simons said he's had a little break during the summer, and is looking forward to getting back to Victoria and a fall session in the legislature.
"The premier has said there will be a fall session. We just don't know when, but we're prepared. We want to be in the legislature where we can do the business of government and opposition. Until such time there is an election, there are things that can be done," he said. "We have issues that have arisen all during the summer that have questioned government policy and we really need to address those issues - such as the closing of group homes, the high ferry fares, the review of the gaming grant situation - these are things that require some discussion. We talk about consultation and the government has purported to be more interested in consultation, but unless that consultation is meaningful, and I'm skeptical that it is, people are not going to be well served.
"I think what we need to do is make sure that the people who are elected to represent the 85 ridings have a part in developing public policy. People want to see intelligent, thoughtful policy, not based on good slogans or style rather than substance. I think people want to see substance and see a province that has a vision for how to make our society a fairer place and a place where families aren't constantly struggling with higher costs for MSP, hydro and ferries. That's what a government under Adrian Dix will be focused on and I'm looking forward to being a part of that."
No election until 2013
There will be no provincial election until May 2013.
Premier Christy Clark made the announcement through Lower Mainland media on Wednesday night saying that she made the decision because it was the best for the province to stick with the province's fixed election calendar.
Clark went on to say that she plans to call the legislature back for a fall sitting as soon as possible.
