If you're not a fan of election lawn signs, political ads or mail outs, then may we suggest a three-month move to Mexico or Hawaii? During the next three months these things are going to be hard to avoid, as British Columbians will head to the polls twice in a span of five weeks.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper dropped the writ last Sunday setting Oct. 14 as federal election day with the municipal election in this province set for Nov. 15.
Both elections are critical for the future of not only our country, but also our province and one election is not more important than the other. B.C. and more specifically our riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country appears to be a key battle ground as the Conservatives try and regain the seat once held by John Reynolds. The seat went Liberal last time with Blair Wilson, but now that Wilson has made the switch to the Green Party, the seat is up for grabs. Conservative candidate John Weston, who lost to Wilson by less than 1,000 votes last time, has never stopped campaigning in the riding. He's poised to reclaim the seat and push the Conservatives even closer to the majority government they so covet.
But the Liberals will have something to say about that in the form of Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland who was acclaimed last Saturday by the local riding association. Sutherland is a two-term mayor of Squamish and has led the community through years of ups and downs, twists and turns in the Sea to Sky Corridor. He does lack in federal political experience, but is not new to politics, so that should help him as he hits the campaign trail. Dana Larsen running under the New Democrat banner is also no stranger to politics as he once ran for the Marijuana Party. He'll play a factor no doubt with a strong NDP base here on the Coast and in Squamish.
And then there is Wilson. He's battled through scandal, resigned from the Liberals, sat as and Independent and now has gone Green. He's the first Green member of Parliament and he has his work cut out for him if he wants to continue as our MP. Wilson has done a good job representing this riding when it comes to the issues, but the baggage that he carries after the Elections Canada investigation and subsequent court fight with his father-in-law Bill Lougheed may be just too much for the feisty politician to overcome. During the next few weeks, Coast Reporter, along with our sister papers will follow the candidates on the campaign trail. We urge all voters to be active in this election. Attend all-candidates meetings and ask questions and most importantly on Oct. 14, and Nov. 15 get out and vote. The only way to have positive change in both elections is to vote and make your voice count.
