Adrian Dix and his NDP caucus met in Kelowna last week and, as in previous trips to the Okanagan, he decreed our region is definitely on the NDP's radar for the next provincial election.
With Dix enjoying a 14-point lead
(depending on which poll you believe) over the B.C. Liberals, his party still needs to translate that statistic into seats.
In the 2009 election, the NDP was shut out in the Okanagan Valley although it might have won Boundary-Similkameen had it not been handcuffed by the Carole James policy on it being an
affirmative action riding.
The NDP will definitely benefit from the resurgence of the provincial Conservatives. Although it's questionable whether John Cummins' party will win a seat, those who vote Conservative likely wouldn't have
voted for the NDP anyway.
This time around, Boundary- Similkameen was quick out of the chute with the announcement of
former Oliver councillor Marji Basso as NDP candidate. Carole Gordon, head of the North Okanagan Labour Council, is running in Westside-Kelowna.
Both are school teachers, which
could work against them depending
on the outcome of the present labour dispute.
The Penticton riding, where MLA Bill Barisoff is expected to retire at the end of this term, could be interesting. The only problem is, they don't appear to have an candidate. Garry Litke, who topped the polls for city council, would be the logical choice, but he hasn't declared if he's interested. Cameron Phillips, the candidate in 2009, said he's "99 per cent" sure he's not running and former Green Party deputy leader Julius Bloomfield dismissed rumours he's crossing the floor.
This low-level activity could be part of an overall strategy. Every political party can attest the toughest thing to do (next to recruiting younger members) is keeping momentum going between elections.
While the polls must be refreshing for NDPers, the reality is with only 81 seats up for grabs, they must make a dent in this neck of the province if they want to form the next government.
- James M. Miller, Managing Editor, Penticton Herald