LITTLE BRITCHES RODEO DRAWS ENTHUSIASTIC COMPETITORS 21 MAY 22, 2013
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Monika Paterson photo
Andre Aspell, left, is the hazer on this ride and it’s his job to make sure the steer runs a straight line, as his partner Wade McNolty leapt from his horse to wrap his arms around the steer’s neck. This action took place during the May 20 performance of the South Cariboo Rodeo Club’s BCRA rodeo.
Barnett beats Wyse in Cariboo-Chilcotin
Carole Rooney Free Press
B.C. Liberal MLA-elect Donna Barnett retained her Cariboo-Chilcotin seat in legislature with a landslide victory in the May 14 provincial election. Voters in the local constituency made a distinct decision when Barnett took 56.44 per cent of the riding votes (6,952), with a resounding margin over NDP candidate Charlie Wyse at 34.53 per cent (4,253). They were trailed by Green Party of BC’s Dustin Price at 5.33 per cent (657) and Independent candidate Gary Young with 3.69 per cent (455). The B.C. Liberals under Christy Clark won the election to form another majority government, which Barnett says will be a positive, yes-answer to her leadership. In her victory speech, she outlined the benefits of now having three B.C. Liberal MLA-elects along the Highway 97 Corridor in the British Columbia Interior – instead of Barnett alone, as has been the case during the past four year term – and all of them are women. This happened because Coralee Oakes defeated
B.C. Liberal majority mandate brings stability
Independent Bob Simpson in Cariboo North, and Jackie Tegart beat longtime incumbent and former NDP cabinet minister Harry Lali in Fraser-Nicola. “It is very unusual to have three women like that in a line [geographically].” Barnett explains how working together with other B.C. Liberal MLAs in neighbouring constituencies can help get key messages across in Victoria. “When each of us has an issue, which is probably relevant to all three ridings because it’s rural British Columbia, we will be able to work together, and it gives us a bigger voice in Victoria.” In her past four-year term, the Cariboo-Chilcotin constituency had opposition MLAs outside all its borders and she says many of their constituents came to Barnett’s office for help because she was the government. “You end up doing things in other ridings, so your workload is twice as heavy.” The election results won’t become official until
May 27, and then the new legislative assembly members must be sworn in to power. Barnett notes the caucus hasn’t met yet, but she has her own ideas on where a primary focus might be right off the bat for the B.C. Liberals. “Permits to get something done are so cumbersome. The first four years I was there; I spent most of my time helping people get through processes. “If you want to create jobs, you’ve got to get a much leaner process. You don’t have to take the teeth out of it, but you’ve got to make it so it is not cumbersome and lengthy.” She adds that having policies in place that say, “Yes, we want business,” are also crucial. While Christy Clark won the premier’s job in the election, she lost her seat in her home constituency of Vancouver-Point Grey. Now, another B.C. Liberal MLA-elect must give up a seat, so Clark can run in a byelection. Says Barnett: “It is very important; it is a big issue because she can’t sit in the legislature [ without being an MLA]. I’m sure somebody will [give up their seat], but who knows who?” Regarding the reported 801 Club, recently Continued on 5