e-KNOW News

By Bob Ede

The David Thompson Secondary School Theatre in Invermere was standing room only Thursday evening (April 27), as residents had a chance to listen to the Columbia River-Revelstoke candidates for the upcoming provincial election.

The All Candidates Forum was sponsored by the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce and moderated by local resident, Jim Neilson.

The participants were Gerry Taft of the BC NDP, Independents Justin Hooles and Duncan MacLeod, Doug Clovechok, candidate for the BC Liberal Party and Green Party candidate Samson Boyer. Libertarian Party candidate, Rylan Kashuba was absent.

Questions, submitted earlier, by residents of the Columbia Valley and chosen by event organizers, included relevant subjects such as health care, balancing environmental concerns in a resource based economy, affordable housing and ways to deal with a seasonal economy.

It was a chance for voters to see the candidates think on their feet while expressing their views.

The event was a polite affair by both the crowd and politicians, with more laughs than barbs throughout the evening.

NDP candidate Taft and BC Liberal candidate Clovechok expressed their respective party platform differences to one another, but had little debate or dissension on the questions posed by moderator Jim Neilson.

Samson Boyer of the Green Party conducted himself well and may have a bright future in politics, if not this election, then very soon.

Both Justin Hooles and Duncan MacLeod may have been unknown to the Invermere crowd, but quickly endeared themselves to the audience, with thoughtful, sometimes ‘out of the box’ answers.

The evening was a welcome relief from the televised provincial leaders debate the night before with their constant interruptions and desire to talk over one another.

The provincial election general voting day is May 9 with advance voting on April 29 and 30 and May 3, 4, 5 and 6.

What you need to know about the upcoming election.

Photos by Bob Ede

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