EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Candidates up to debate at seniors forum Page 6
Summer Stomp gives back after successful year Page 8
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 41 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Polling results add to local debate Survey results: Divergent data adds to uncertainty of Liberal/NDP vote. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
A sudden proliferation of local polling results offer more for North Okanagan-Shuswap voters to ponder before the Oct. 19 federal election. As of Tuesday, three polls had been conducted in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding. One was commissioned by local residents, another by the organization Leadnow.ca and a third by the Liberal Party of Canada. The former two, when compared to the Liberal poll, paint a different election outcome for the Liberal and NDP positions. The Leadnow polling results – a sampling of 755 eligible voters in the riding – are the latest to be released. It suggests 37 per cent of eligible voters in the riding will be casting their ballots for NDP candidate Jacqui Gingras, 33 per cent for Conservative candidate Mel Arnold, 22 per cent for Liberal Cindy Derkaz and eight per cent for Green candidate Chris George. Five per cent are undecided. The results of this poll are the culmination of two questions, “If the federal election were held tomorrow, which one of the following parties would you vote for here in the riding of North Okanagan-Shuswap,” and “Even though you are undecided, is there a party’s candidate that you are leaning towards.” It was conducted by Environics Analytics between Oct. 9 and 11, by telephone, using interactive voice response technology and random sampling, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The results can be found at https://www.votetogether.ca/riding/59020/northokanaganshuswap/. On Saturday, Oct. 10, polling company Mainstreet Technologies conducted a telephone survey in the riding funded by the local Liberal Party of Canada campaign. To the question: “If the election were held today, which candidate would you vote for,” 38 per cent of respondents said Arnold, 22 per cent said NDP candidate Jacqui Gingras, 20 per cent said Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz and four per cent said Green candidate Chris George. Ten per cent of respondents were undecided. To the follow-up question, If you knew your preferred candidate wouldn’t win, which candiSee Group on page 2
Safety concerns: Sicamous council has issued a remedial action requirement for the demolition of the former Extreme Power Sports site at 1305 Rauma Ave. Photo by Lachlan Labere
District takes action towards demolition By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
The District of Sicamous is taking steps to get the firedamaged remains of the former Extreme Power Sports building demolished. Last week, municipal council supported a recommendation by staff to impose a remedial action requirement on the owner of the property at 1305 Rauma Ave. The building was severely damaged in a May 6 fire, and is considered by council to be in an “unsafe condition, which creates a significant risk to health and safety.” In a report to council, district community planner Mike
Marrs explains “written com- charter, the property owner “They have 10 days – typiplaints have been received by 30 has days after receiving cally, the charter says 14, but the district about the unsightly notice of the remedial action because of the state of the nature of the building building, we consider and the spreading of it to be an urgent matcontaminated debris, ter…,” said Marrs. ash and dust onto ad“Council can listen to jacent residential and their appeal and then commercial properties.” you can decide to agree They have 10 days – typically, “Further, despite with them or to stand the charter says 14 but, because the erected fencing, it behind the decision you of the state of the building, is obvious that vandals make tonight. So that we consider it to be an urgent are being attracted to decision is up to counmatter…. the building, resulting cil.” Mike Marrs in exposure to serious In August, Marrs District of Sicamous personal injury,” writes said he’d spoken with Marrs. “This exposure the building’s insurer, and safety concern will con- requirement to demolish and and confirmed the demolition tinue and increase given we remove the building, includ- contract had been awarded to are entering the fall/winter ing its foundation. However, a local contractor. patterns.” the owner has 10 days to ap“We’re just waiting for As per the community peal council’s decision. See Property owner on page 3