SADDLE UP | Equine Rangers want horseback riders to be responsible in Enderby [A4]
Morning gStar
The
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
O K A N A G A N
• 3 Year Extended Warranty • 5 Year Warranty on frame • Lifetime Guarantee on all LS Decks
169999
$
from
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
O V E R
2 0
Y E A R S
3202 29TH Street, Vernon • 250-545-0627
Liberal leader wows the crowd RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
Justin Trudeau (above), federal Liberal leader, speaks to more than 300 residents at Vernon’s Polson Park Tuesday, while Noemie Petit (below) takes a photo of Trudeau with her mom Sabine. For a video of Trudeau’s visit see www.vernonmorningstar.com “We have an awful lot of work to do over the coming years,” he said. Janna Francis, former OkanaganShuswap Liberal candidate, was pleased to see such a large turnout in the park. “It tells me that people are interested. People are paying attention,” she said, adding that the party’s restructuring is healthy. “The decline of the party (losing seats in 2011) was something that was needed so we could reconsider who we are as a party and our values.” Francis says Trudeau has provided Canadians with an opportunity to engage directly with the party. “This is the second time he has been here in two years. It shows that he cares and wants to connect with people,” she said. Like others in the party, Francis is convinced many Canadians are looking for an alternative to the Conservatives. “People were promised certain things like openness and accountable government and they are not getting that,” she said. As part of his tour of the Interior, Trudeau was in Trail Monday and in Kelowna Tuesday.
EMPLOYEE PRICING IS BACK Hurry in for BEST SELECTION!!!
WATKIN MOTORS
DLR. #6076
There was definite star power as Justin Trudeau stopped in Vernon Tuesday. No sooner was the federal Liberal leader out of his RV at Polson Park and a crowd of more than 300 people embraced him. Photos and autographs became the hot souvenirs from the encounter. “He’s exciting, he’s young and he feels like something new,” said John Burton, 20. For Burton, Trudeau brings a sense of optimism that he believes is in sharp contrast to the current political environment. “He’s working towards a goal I want to be part of.” Kim and Gerry Thibeault drove all the way from Edgewood to see Trudeau. “When he spoke at his father’s (former prime minister Pierre Trudeau) funeral, I knew he would be prime minister one day,” said Gerry. Kim is also taken with Trudeau’s policies. “He has a positive message. I love his message about all of us being Canadians,” she said. Trudeau is currently touring B.C. with his family as a way of increasing the Liberals’ profile, especially given that it placed a distant third in the 2011 election. “I’ve been incredibly touched by the attention given to me over the last few days,” he said. “It’s not just about me. It’s about putting Canadians back in Canadian politics. They want to feel engaged and involved.” Trudeau says the current Conservative government has fostered divisions across the country. “We’re incredibly cynical about politicians but we’re tired of being cynical,” he said, adding that there is a need for people to pull together to tackle major issues like the economy and the environment. “My biggest problem with the government is it’s lack of ambition for this country. We are better than Stephen Harper thinks we are.” Trudeau says more must be done to help families make ends meet. “The vast majority of hard-working Canadians have not seen a raise in 30 years, not a real one,” he said. Trudeau briefly touched on the fact that the Liberal Party is continuing to rebuild after the election loss and is preparing for the 2015 federal vote.
4602 - 27 ST, VERNON | SALES • LEASING • PARTS • SERVICE 250-545-0611 • 1-800-736-1944 • WATKINMOTORS.COM