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VALLEY ECHO T he
Wednesday, October 31, 2013 2012 Wednesday, April 17,
Vol. 57 Issue 16
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Vol. 56 Issue 40
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A great debate
Three MLA hopefuls stake positions and policies in front of crowd of 150 at school GREG AMOS editor@invermerevalleyecho.com
Economic visions for B.C. and approaches to the local dialysis unit dilemma were among the top issues discussed at the all-candidates debate on the evening of Wednesday, April 10th. Three candidates — one still awaiting official Elections BC confirmation of his candidacy — squared off in posing answers to ten questions on ten different topics, selected from a pool of 100 questions received by the organizing committee. "It's important in my view to simply be predictable as a government," said incumbent MLA Norm Macdonald, as he railed against the province's implementation of the now-rescinded harmonized sales tax. Mr. Macdonald also observed that the provincial debt has ballooned to $78 billion when factoring in the BC Hydro deferral accounts related to independent power producer agreements. "The creation of jobs is the largest issue in the province," said soonto-be-confirmed BC Conservative candidate Earl Olsen, a career accountant and businesman who was a new face to many in the crowd of 150 people. "We're almost
GREG AMOS PHOTO BC Liberal party candidate Doug Clovechok expounds on an answer to one of ten questions posed to three candidates at the all-candidates debate held on Wednesday, April 10th at David Thompson Secondary. A capacity crowd of 150 packed the high school theatre for the event, which ran for two hours as candidates answered pre-approved questions. There was no opportunity for the public to pose questions directly Pictured, left to right: Mr. Clovechok, BC Conservative candidate Earl Olsen, NDP incumbent MLA Norm Macdonald, and event moderator Craig Knapp.
sliding to the point where operational debt is being paid for with more debt," he added. While candidates had to compete with noise from a band practice early in the event, all stood and spoke directly to the crowd while resisting the urge to take personal shots at their rivals. "The NDP want more government, and who's going to pay for that?" questioned BC Liberal candidate Doug Clovechok, who also strongly endorsed
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Premier Christy Clark's plan to create a liquefied natural gas export industry for B.C. He also condemned former premier Gordon Campbell for the manner in which the harmonized sales tax was introduced, but praised the tax itself. "As a small business owner, the HST worked for us," said Mr. Clovechok. The NDP "followed Bill Vanderzalm over the cliff," on the HST issue, he added. Seizing on a strong community issue, Mr. Macdonald related the closure
of Invermere's community dialysis unit to a 2005 BC Liberal government decision to appoint health board members. "If we form government, that dialysis unit will re-open," he said. Mr. Macdoanld also pledged the NDP would fund more home support care in rural B.C., without stretching the healthcare budget. CONTINUES TO 'DEBATE' ON PAGE A3
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