intro excerpted from thetyee.ca: With the exception of 2001, the BC NDP has won every election in Nelson-Creston since 1991. Before 1991, it fluctuated between Social Credit and the NDP since 1952.
Incumbent Michelle Mungall, the current NDP critic for advanced education, youth and labour market development, will run for a second term in 2013. Other candidates for Nelson-Creston announced so far include former VP and general manager of the Kokanee Springs Golf Resort, Greg Garbula, for the BC Liberals. Sjeng Derkx, a small business owner and cabinet maker, will represent the BC Greens.
Did you know?
In 2006, Nelson-Creston had one of the highest numbers of English-only households in the province. It had a high rate of immigration from other provinces, but a very low rate of immigration from other countries at the time.
That year, it also had the second lowest average before tax income of all other districts, at $49,458. The only district with a lower income was Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.
Brief Synopsis of Platforms/Statements:
Greg Garbula – Liberal Candidate
I’m excited and honored to be the BC Liberal Candidate for MLA in the Nelson / Creston riding. I hope that you will take a few moments to check out the various information pages – and learn a bit more about me. I’m a Kootenay man to the core and I know I have what it takes to represent the people in our area.
My goal is to help our community by:
1. Supporting local businesses and assisting smart growth and development.
2. Re-energizing the vitality of our community initiatives that are youth and family friendly.
3. Renewing support and promotion of environmentally responsible projects.
4. Working to ensure respect and a greater voice for our unique culture and our pristine ecosystem.
5. Improving movement of goods and services within our region with increased opportunities to markets abroad.
6. Help to generate new, sustainable, economic growth and more jobs
Michelle Mungall – NDP Candidate:
At the age of 31 years-old, Michelle became the first woman elected as MLA in Nelson-Creston. Seven years earlier, in 2002, she set another record as the youngest person ever elected to Nelson City Council.
Michelle serves as opposition critic for Advanced Education, Youth and Labour Market Development.
Her university studies and her career in community development eventually brought her to Zambia, where she worked to better the lives of girls with HIV/AIDS. Michelle served as Nelson City Councillor (2002-2005); Community Coordinator, Nelson Committee on Homelessness; National Programs Assistant, YWCA Zambia; and managed the Nelson food security and micro-finance non-profit organizations.
Michelle holds a BA (Honours) in Political Science from University of Alberta and a MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University.
She was the 2008 Recipient of the National Social Sciences Humanities Research Council Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship and is bilingual in English and French.
Michelle and her partner Zak reside in their Nelson home. They enjoy skiing, hiking, local arts and being active in the region.
Sjeng Derkx – Green Party Candidate
I believe that in British Columbia we can have good lives, balanced budgets, social justice, successful businesses, and leave our children and grandchildren a planet they can thrive on.
I can’t wait to:
- Respectfully work with all parties on important issues like climate change, the health of our economy and balancing the government budget.
- Support initiatives which reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and which allows and helps communities to find local solutions to local issues like health care, education, economic development and infrastructure.
- Work towards fair, proportional elections where every vote counts equally, where our votes, and not an outdated voting system, decide the outcome, and where MLA’s represent you instead of being bobbleheads for their party
- Put a moratorium on pipelines and new fossil fuel extraction projects. End the subsidies to oil and gas companies and take advantage of the opportunities of the new green economy to create local jobs, local business opportunities and increased local food security.
- End the violence of the War on Drugs and fight to KEEP JUMBO WILD.
Get out and vote! May 14, 2013!