The B.C. Liberals may be the only ones locked and ready in West Vancouver-Garibaldi for this spring's provincial election, but no one involved in the riding -not even the Liberals -thinks it's a particularly advantageous position.
With the May 17 election barely two months away, the Green and New Democratic parties have yet to nominate candidates or even set dates for their nomination meetings. However, all parties, including the Liberals, do not see the early Liberal candidacy as an advantage.
"I don't think I have an advantage," said Joan McIntyre, who won the Liberal nomination in early December. "I think the real advantage is running for the sitting government. They've achieved a lot in the last few years revitalizing the economy and reinvesting in social [programming], education, health care and infrastructure."
Lyle Fenton, NDP riding association president, said the Liberals' biggest vulnerability in the coming election will be what he says are numerous "broken promises," along with the party's decisions to cut funding in areas such as education and health care.
"They haven't kept their word in very direct ways," he said.
He said he would like this year's campaign focus on health care, education and concerns about privatization of B.C.'s assets. However, he said the parties don't necessarily dictate the issues addressed during a campaign.
"A lot of it depends on the media and what they want to put out in the front of people's minds," he said. "I'd like to see issues, not personalities."
He views the coming election as a critical one for B.C.
"If the Liberals are in for another term, control through democratic checks and balances for roads, hydro and health will be controlled by multinationals - the U.S." Fenton said. "They are starting to talk about putting private lodges into parks. It is difficult to control it once it starts. The question will be, 'What kind of B.C. do you want?'"
McIntyre's campaign strategy is to maintain the work she has been engaged in over the past six months: listening to residents, community leaders and elected officials to understand the public's needs and concerns.
She said the most prominent issues voiced by the public relate to corridor growth and transportation concerns. She said upgrades to Hwy. 99, public transit pilot projects, independent power plant (IPP) proposals and community expansion are some of the concerns voiced by corridor communities.
Silvaine Zimmermann, who is seeking nomination for the Green Party, wants a green B.C. with socially progressive and responsible concerns as well as environmental ones.
She said while Greens would need to double or sometime triple their votes to win a riding, in the 2001 election, the party placed second in many ridings, including West Vancouver-Garibaldi. She believes the party's message has become more mainstream in the past four years.
"We need to get some form of PR going and maybe then people will start re-thinking their behaviour and start voting the way they feel, which is Green," she said. "Even in West Vancouver, they have high-end natural food stores. [A store] like that can't sustain itself economically without a purchasing base. It is Green. We are hoping to make Green something a part of what people do no matter what economic background.
"You don't have to worry about a split party," she said. "Vote with your heart. We won't be able to dislodge all the Liberals."
