Morning gStar
The
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 P R O U D L Y
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Warren Woodward
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HEROES HONOURED | RCMP award civilians for their roles in assisting police [A6]
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Setting sights on ‘freebies’
RIGHT ON TRACK
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Participants in the lawn tractor races careen around a corner as they compete in the annual event at the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Harvest Pumpkin Festival Saturday at the IPE Grounds.
Some may see free items along roadways as treasure waiting to be discovered, but a Vernon politician has declared it a health disaster. Coun. Brian Quiring told his colleagues Tuesday that couches and mattresses left at the end of driveways are fuelling a bedbug infestation. “I’m shocked at how big the problem is,” he said of the insects. “They spread like wildfire.” Quiring would like to see a crackdown on unwanted items residents have left along roads Brian Quiring in the hopes members of the public will pick them up. “It drives me crazy when I see piles of junk at the end of driveways because they don’t want to go to the dump,” he said. “It’s getting worse than it used to be. It’s everywhere.” City staff report that city bylaws to clean up items on right-of-way or in private yards can be enforced if complaints are received.
Polls reveal varying riding results RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
New polls continue to show a tight race for North OkanaganShuswap, but they differ on who is gaining ground. A Liberal survey has the Conservatives in the lead, with the Liberals nipping at the heels of the NDP for second, while a Leadnow poll has the NDP in top spot, followed by the Conservatives and Liberals. The Liberal-commissioned poll was conducted by Mainstreet Technologies and it asked 567 people, “If an election were held today, which candidate would you vote for?” The results were 38 per cent Conservative, 22 per cent NDP, 20 per cent Liberal, four per cent Green and 16 per cent undecided. The Leadnow poll was conducted by Environics Research and it asked 755 people, “If the federal election were held tomorrow,
Mel Arnold
Cindy Derkaz
which one of the following parties would you vote for here in North Okanagan-Shuswap? It shows, among decided voters, 37 per cent NDP, 33 per cent Conservatives, 22 per cent Liberals, eight per cent Greens. Five per cent of those polled were undecided. Cindy Derkaz, Liberal candidate, believes her party’s poll reflects what is happening locally. “Clearly, NDP support in our riding is fading fast, just as it is fading nationally,” she said. “The national polls make it
Chris George
Jacqui Gingras
clear that Justin Trudeau is the only leader, and the Liberals are the only party, who can replace Stephen Harper. We’ll continue to run as hard as we can leading up to Oct. 19.” However, Jacqui Gingras, with the NDP, has a different interpretation of the political scene. “When we go to doorsteps, we hear support is growing and polls are an attempt to predict outcomes but they are not evidence of outcomes,” she said. “Regardless of the polls, we’ll be
on doorsteps and phones until the election because there are many undecided voters out there.” Conservative Mel Arnold says he’s more interested in what he is hearing from residents than what opinion surveys show. “The only poll that matters is Oct. 19 and until then, our team will continue to spread the Conservative message,” he said. “Polls have been so unpredictable over the years and we will not change our strategy because of polls.” Green Chris George could not be reached for comment. A recent Oraclepoll Research survey commissioned by a group of local citizens showed 41 per cent of decided voters support for the NDP, 38 per cent for the Conservatives, 12 per cent for the Liberals and nine per cent for the Greens. Fifteen per cent were undecided. The Mainstreet Technologies
poll was conducted Oct. 10 in the North Okanagan-Shuswap. A total of 567 people 18 years and over were interviewed and the margin of error is plus or minus 4.1 per cent, 19 out of 20 times. The survey was conducted using computer-assisted techniques of phone interviewing and random number selection. The results can be found at http://cindyderkaz.liberal.ca/files/2015/10/ North-Okanagan-Survey-Results. pdf. The Environics Research poll was conducted Oct. 9 and 11 in the North Okanagan-Shuswap. A total of 755 people 18 years and over were interviewed and the margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 per cent, 19 out of 20 times. The survey was conducted using computer-assisted techniques of phone interviewing and random number selection. The results can be found at https:// s3.amazonaws.com/leadnow/ Environics-leadnow-oct-13-15.pdf.
BANNISTER HONDA “A Family Business, with Family Values ”
6425 Hwy 97 N, Vernon BC • bannisterhonda.com 250-545-0531 • 888-545-0531 DL# 8718 †$2,500 Honda cash purchase incentive is available on select 2015 Civic models (2D LX, 2D EX, 2D EX-L Navi, 2D Si, 4D DX, 4D LX, 4D EX, 4D Touring). Honda cash purchase incentive will be deducted from the negotiated price after taxes and cannot be combined with special lease or finance offers. **MSRP is $17,245 based on a new 2015 Civic DX FB2E2FEX including $1,495 freight and PDI. Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent’s fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer. Offers valid from September 1st through 30th, 2015 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.