WEDNESDAY October
7 2015
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Battle for undecideds heating up
Time-for-a-change Tory? NDP/Liberal switcher? You’re in good company JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
Deep Cove resident Margo Smith-Kavanagh says she always votes in federal elections, but this is the first time she’s had an election sign on her lawn. Make that two signs. Smith-Kavanagh, who
lives in the new riding of Burnaby North-Seymour, has put up signs for NDP candidate Carol Baird Ellan and Liberal candidate Terry Beech. “Some people have asked about it,” she said. “It’s prompted discussion.” “I’m undecided,” she added. Smith-Kavanagh said she’s been impressed
VOTE 2015 with both candidates and is comfortable with both Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair as party leaders. “I’d like my vote to count,” she said. Smith-Kavanagh isn’t alone. Depending on which
poll is consulted and when it was done, pollsters put the undecideds at anywhere from 10 to 25 per cent of voters. That number usually narrows slightly closer to voting day, but the three-way race that’s been happening this election may keep the number of undecideds up until close to the end. So far, national polls indicate none of the parties have enough of the popular vote to put
them in range of a majority government and even the question of who could form a minority is up for grabs. That means courting of the undecideds will happen in earnest during the last weeks of the campaign. But “undecideds” are actually a complex group of voters, say the pollsters, and strategists who study voting behaviour. One group of undecideds is truly ambivalent and
probably doesn’t care much about politics, said Greg Lyle, a pollster and political strategist with Innovative Research, who makes his home on the Sunshine Coast. “They’re not following it closely. When they say they have no opinion, they don’t have an opinion.” They also probably don’t vote, which isn’t surprising See Attack page 9
Girl, 5, seriously injured after tree falls in schoolyard JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
A five-year-old girl was rushed to B.C. Children’s Hospital with serious injuries and remains in a medically induced coma after being struck by a falling tree while outside with her class on the school grounds of Highlands elementary Monday. The girl was in serious but stable condition Tuesday afternoon after suffering head injuries and internal injuries after being hit by the tree. Counsellors were at the elementary school Tuesday morning to speak with the girl’s classmates and with teachers and staff. “Everyone is concerned,” said Victoria Miles, spokeswoman for the North Vancouver School District. See Tree page 9
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SPIN MASTER Jake Scott does some hula-hooping on Tuesday, Oct. 6 during Montroyal elementary’s celebration of Walk and Wheel to School Week. The annual provincial event encourages students, parents, staff and residents to recognize the benefits of walking to school. Montroyal, Ridgeway and Larson elementary schools are all holding special events throughout the week to mark the initiative. For more photos, visit nsnews.com/photo-galleries. PHOTO MIKE WAKEFIELD
Bad Driver Award #237: Fatal Distraction Bad drivers like Dexter bring us good drivers like you. So watch out for texters (and don’t be one yourself!) And when you do need collision repair, remember BC’s favourite, Craftsman Collision. ®™ Trademark of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under licence by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and Craftsman Collision Ltd.
2 North Van locations: 810 W. 1st St. and 1315 Cotton Rd.