A6 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 THE TIMES
Bocking’s back for NDP in Mission
“Several excellent candidates” on Conservative list
Buoyed by O’Mahony, eager for second shot at Dalton CHRISTINA TOTH CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com
by-election in Chilliwack-Hope, in what was historically a staunch Conservative stronghold. eteran campaigner Mike In the NDP nomination contest, Bocking is back, and he’s Bocking beat Maple Ridge lawyer hoping to take the Maple Bob D’Eith, who he described as “a Ridge-Mission seat for the New very strong candidate,” 81 votes to Democrats in the May 2013 pro- 45 at the Nov. 25 meeting in Silvervincial election. dale. The two began campaigning This will be the second time 14 months ago, when there was Bocking will challenge B.C. Lib- speculation that Premier Christy eral Marc Dalton, Clark may call an who edged ahead early election. of his NDP rival “I have nothing against “The party wantto take the riding corporations but we also ed the ridings to be by just 68 votes ready, particularly in their nailbiter need to pay attention to in those that had a election contest strong chance” of the working and middle in 2009. winning, Bocking “It was one of classes. The balance has said. the closest races A former reporter been skewed.” in B.C.” said Bockwith the Vancouver ing, who has also Sun in the 1980s, – Mike Bocking NDP Bocking has been unsuccessfully challenged MP a newspaper union Conservative Ranrepresentative since dy Kamp in the past three federal 1988, and is now the president of elections. the Communications, Energy and Still, after building his profile in Paperworkers Union, Local 2000, those campaigns over the years, also known as the media union. he feels votes could very well go But his union background his way this time around. doesn’t mean Bocking is antiProvincially, the area has sup- business – with the shaky global ported the NDP in the past – for- economy as the underlying conmer forests and fisheries minister text, he wants to see B.C. regain Dennis Striefel held the seat for the a balance between business and party from 1991 to 2001. public interests. Bocking also takes encourage“Business is an important part ment from NDP compatriot Gwen of a healthy economy but so are O’Mahony, who won the spring working people. In the last 12
LIBERALS, from page A1
V
newcomer Darryl Plecas in Abbotsford South, who will face former Liberal, now independent MLA John van Dongen in the election. The New Democrats hold a nomination contest for Abbotsford-Mission on Jan. 6. Contestants here are Wendy Bales, in her second term as the Fraser Valley Regional District director for electoral area C, and current Abbotsford Board of Education trustee Preet Rai. There were rumours that former District of Mission Coun. Terry Gidda intended to run, but the deadline is now closed. NDP candidates already confirmed are Lakhvinder Jhaj in Abbotsford South, and Sukhi Dhami in Abbotsford West, both small business operators, and in Maple Ridge-Mission, Media Union of B.C. president Mike Bocking. Aird Flavelle, who ran for Abbotsford city council last year, will run in Abbotsford-Mission for the Green Party. The Greens don’t have any other local candidates announced yet. As for the B.C. Conservatives, communications director Kristy Fredericks said the party has had “several excellent candidates express interest” in getting nominations with the party in both Abbotsford and Mission but nomination meeting dates have not yet been set.
years, the government has been increasingly focused on the top end of the scale, on large corporations. I have nothing against corporations but we also need to pay attention to the working and middle classes. The balance has been skewed,” he said. One way of restoring that balance and aiding the economy is to address skills shortages – an issue raised by both business and unions – by funding skilled worker training and post-secondary education. “We are falling behind in productivity because there is less investment in skills training. Investment in people through skills and education is a good way of growing the economy and prosperity,” Bocking said. He pointed to the “ridiculous” situation of bringing in 200 Chinese nationals to work in a Tumbler Ridge-area coal mine in a province that has a long history in coal mining. There are likely skilled workers in B.C. who could do the work, but if not, training should be made available for local residents who are looking for stable employment, he said. Additionally, a freeze on funding post-secondary institutions has forced universities to raise fees, adding more barriers for those seeking training, he said. Locally, Bocking would work to develop a much-needed public transit connection between Mis-
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sion and Maple Ridge. Since the Liberals downgraded medical services at the Mission Memorial Hospitals, more patients, particularly seniors, are required to go to Maple Ridge for treatment, he said. The environment is also a priority for his party, he said, and they’d work with the federal government to implement measures to protect the salmon fishery recommended by the Cohen report. “Hatcheries should be enhanced on the north side of the [Fraser] river, at Inch Creek, Weaver and one by Chehalis. There are a lot of development pressures [on fish habitat] and we need to have government inspectors in place to monitor,” Bocking said. Wednesday, Dec. 5 - Thursday, Dec. 6
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