With the 2015 federal election just over six weeks away, the races are already shaping up in the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding.
Some of the candidates have already entered full-campaigning mode to represent Skeena-Bulkley Valley residents in the House of Commons.
Incumbent Nathan Cullen (NDP), who has held the riding since 2004, said the focus of his campaign will be a “strong need to change the [conservative] government.”
Cullen said his campaign will be focusing on all of his achievements while being an MP for the last 11 years, but also acknowledging the need to do more for job creation and the protection of rivers and lakes.
“While we’ve had good success bringing in federal dollars and seeing some of the economy rebound, there’s still lots to do,” he said. “We need to do more to add value to our resources and create a more balanced economy.
Cullen said his campaign will focus on initiatives such as the $15-a-day national child-care program, and lowering the small business tax rate.
“We think there is a strong need to help families and also create a stronger economy,” he said.
Terrace-based Conservative candidate Tyler Nesbitt said he has been building support in the northwest since he began seeking the Conservative nomination in January 2015.
“The focus of my campaign is reaching as many voters as I can by knocking on doors,” said Nesbitt. “The reaction at the door has been overwhelmingly positive and people are encouraged that I am working very hard, every day, to fight for our region's future.”
Nesbitt said he is in this race because he wants the northwest and its people to prosper.
“The way to do that is by growing the economy, creating jobs and keeping people's taxes low,” he said. “Conservatives are ready to meet the economic challenges that lie ahead, ready to emerge faster and stronger than other countries - just as we did after the 2008 global financial crisis.”
The Liberal Party has chosen Telkwa councillor Brad Layton as their representative. Layton works in the forestry industry and has just started his second term as a village councillor.
Layton said he plans to win people’s votes by talking to as many people as he can and showing that the Liberal Party is “the only party with a real plan.”
“I have strong convictions that we as a society can have both economic development and strong environmental standards for projects in Northwest B.C.,” said Layton. “I also have strong convictions that we need to benefit from these projects locally and not just contribute to provincial or federal coffers.”
The Christian Heritage Party (CHP) has nominated Donald Spratt to run in Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding. Spratt said his campaign will focus on local and national social, cultural and economic issues with solutions from a historical and constitutional viewpoint.
“Spratt is a strong moral and fiscal conservative who unapologetically places historic Canadian founding constitutional principles above the political correctness of the progressive camp that make up the three major parties,” said the CHP in a press release.
The CHP party has already started their campaign, although they are still in the early organizational stages.
The Green Party has not yet announced a candidate for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding, but the party hopes to choose a representative before the end of the week.