Prince George’s Lost Liberals | British Columbia Elections 2024

Political upheaval has not spared northern British Columbia. In Prince George, a city divided into three predominantly liberal ridings during the last elections, there is only one outgoing MP who became an independent who is running. All other candidates are new and need to make themselves known to voters.

Downtown Prince George is crisscrossed by large, empty avenues swept by the autumn wind. Businesses have moved to the outskirts. That’s where Melissa Nelson fills her grocery cart.

Grocery shopping is way too expensive, but I’m not sure what politicians can do about itshe said.

Limited voting choices

My options for elections are limited nowshe confides. Prince George and the North, it’s usually liberal, the NPD is not very present. But now that the Liberals no longer exist, we have gone to just two parties, and I don’t like that.

Melissa Nelson refers to the debacle of the BC United party, its withdrawal from the elections and its joining the Conservative Party. Before changing its name, BC United was the Liberal Party, which long dominated politics in Prince George’s three ridings. His withdrawal shook up local politics.

Candidates change parties

One of the tenors of parliament and fervent defender of the North, Shirley Bond, has retired. Another former BC United MP and well-known minister, Coralee Oakes, is running as an independent candidate and a BC United candidate, Kiel Giddens, has joined the Conservatives.

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It all forms a fascinating election to analyze for observers like Michel Bouchard, professor of anthropology at the University of Northern British Columbia for nearly 25 years.

During the last elections in which I participatedexplains Michel Bouchard, it was more or less a given that the Liberal Party was going to win in these ridings. This year, it’s interesting to know not only who will win, but also by what percentage.

The region votes conservative at the federal level

At the federal level, it is the Conservative Party that dominates hererecalls Michel Bouchard. Before that, we voted for the Reform Party. And as we had in the province the NPD in power for the last 8 years, people want change.

In Prince George-Mackenzie, Shar McCrory is a new candidate for the New Democratic Party. She is notably opposed to the conservative Kiel Giddens.

I don’t think the polls can tell us what will happen heredit Shar McCrory. In this election, we have a lot of new things with a new framework. I will focus on engaging with people and listening to their concerns.

Mike Fahrenback will vote against the New Democrats. I don’t like the NPDquite simplyexplains this resident while storing his groceries in his work van.

I’m semi-retired, 73 years old, and I shouldn’t have to work for a living. But I have to pay the bills, while the government wastes money that is not its own. I’m not going to vote for someone, I’m voting against a party.

Rustad, the local child

John Rustad, the Conservative leader, is from Prince George and now lives in his neighboring riding of Nechako Lakes.

At the end of September, his team organized a rally in town. When John arrivedsays supporter Lee Sexsmith, people were hungry to hear again conservative values ​​that offer hope. Support for John Rustad has literally exploded, so BC United’s move to the Conservatives isn’t a difficult choice here. It’s something we’ve been waiting for.

That day, John Rustad began his speech by talking about one of his flagship measures, the abandonment of the carbon tax. That’s $3.5 billion that will return to citizens’ pockets!he announces to a convinced crowd.

Among the approximately 200 people who came to listen to the Conservative leader, there is a familiar face. That of Pat Bell, a former key minister of the Liberal Party, ex-local MP who had to leave politics for health reasons.

Even a bad John Rustad will be a much better Prime Minister than a good David Eby.

At the federal level, we have been conservatives for a long time, hererecalls Pat Bell. So I think the transition to the Conservatives is going to be pretty easy here. I consider myself center-right, but fiscally I am conservative. We are in crisis and we need a change, and I think John is going to make that possible.

Shirley Bond loved by all

However, the best-known politician in Prince George is, by all accounts, Shirley Bond. Like John Rustad and Pat Bell, she also comes from Prince George. She is the former interim leader of the Liberal Party and was a minister six times. After the BC United debacle, she refused to side with the Conservatives and decided to end her career prematurely.

Ending this career in this way, which I consider to be an incredible honor, was a very difficult decision.admits Shirley Bond.

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We are in an extraordinary regionshe continues. We often feel disconnected from the capital. The reason people have been so supportive of me is because I’m very proud of where I live and I fight for the people here.

Even though parliament has been dissolved, Shirley Bond is still a guest of honor at all important local events. I feel that there is a strong desire for change, but people are also in mourning, there is no longer any political choice at the centerrecognizes this moderate politician. All that interests me now is where the North will fit into the future government’s agenda.