The former Chief of the Lheidli T’enneh is among two new candidates announced by the NDP who will run locally in the October 19th provincial election.
Clay Pountney will run in the Prince George-Valemount riding. He has lived in the northern capital for three decades and has held employment in multiple sectors including trades, forestry, mining and oil and gas.
“My neighbours in Prince George-Valemount are facing big challenges, and the BC NDP has been identifying them and taking them on: by building homes and kicking out speculators that drive up prices, strengthening our healthcare by hiring and training doctors, nurses and other health practitioners, and finding different ways to put money back in your pocket,” said Pountney.
“John Rustad has promised to cut 4.1 billion from our healthcare budget. The decisions he has made as MLA, and the decisions he is planning to make, will cost you more. We can’t afford the risk.”
Pountney will be going against Rosalyn Bird who will be flying the Conservative flag.
Longtime MLA Shirley Bond announced her retirement from provincial politics after BC United leader Kevin Falcon suspended the party’s campaign and endorsed provincial Tories leader John Rustad.
In addition, former Lake Babine Nation Chief Murphy Abraham will run in the Nechako Lakes riding.
During his time in office, he secured 50-million dollars to build community cultural centres as well as overseeing a 20-thousand hectare land transfer to return territory to Lake Babine.
“People in my community know that we’re facing big challenges. And the BC NDP is ready to take those challenges on,” said Abraham.
“David Eby’s BC NDP team is building homes for people, hiring doctors and nurses, and putting money back in your pocket. John Rustad, for his part, has a record of costs and cuts. We can’t afford the risk.”
The Nechako Lakes riding is currently held by Rustad.
Earlier this week, the BC Greens announced Douglas Gook as their candidate for the area.
Houston Mayor Shane Brienen was slated to run for BC United but his status is up in the air.
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