A new provincial party has formed in B.C., in hopes of becoming the voice for rural voters.
The Rural BC Party香蕉视频直播檚 interim leader, Jonathan Van Barneveld, who香蕉视频直播檚 also a councillor in Houston, in northern B.C. near Burns Lake, said the party plans to represent 香蕉视频直播渁verage folks香蕉视频直播� who are tired of the major parties focusing on the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island.
香蕉视频直播淧revious governments going back decades have just really, in essence, never focused on rural issues,香蕉视频直播� Van Barneveld told Black Press Media after announcing the new party on Thursday. 香蕉视频直播淚n Houston specifically, there has always been a need for more social services.香蕉视频直播�
Key issues will vary from boosting tourism to diversifying industries and jobs 香蕉视频直播� policies often driven by larger B.C. cities.
香蕉视频直播淲e have great resource-driven economies and that has sustained our towns for a very long time, but economies change,香蕉视频直播� Van Barneveld said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e never had the opportunity or the means to truly diversify our communities and make them long-term, sustainable places to live.香蕉视频直播�
| The 23 ridings the Rural BC Party would like to represent. |
That means many rural residents living paycheque to paycheque, he said.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e so heavily reliant on the ebb and flow of grant proposals, but yet communities are faced with huge infrastructure deficits. Eventually, our infrastructure is going to wear out and the municipal taxation system doesn香蕉视频直播檛 allow for much else other than a heavy burden on their population.香蕉视频直播�
One example of rural-first policy, he said, is the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance, a group calling for an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to keep revenue generated from the northwest within the region.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 little pieces like that, that when they all come together could greatly help rural B.C.香蕉视频直播�
| Jonathon Van Barneveld (Black Press Media files) |
Party looks to 2021 election with hopes of candidates in 23 ridings
The party gained official electoral status in February, but Van Barneveld she the group wanted to wait to debut until it had had gauged voter appetite for yet another politicial organization vying for support.
While there are only three parties in the B.C. legislature, there are more than 20 eligible provincial parties.
Rural BC香蕉视频直播檚 goal is to represent 23 ridings, outside of the Greater Victoria area and Lower Mainland, in the 2021 election, so long as it can gather candidates. So far, the core team includes Van Barneveld and Telkwa Mayor Darcy Repen.
香蕉视频直播淚n coming months, we will be talking about nominations and getting candidates to come forth, and so we are seeing where the cream rises to the top,香蕉视频直播� Van Barneveld said, adding that some municipal politicians have already shown interest.
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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