NDP candidate McCrory says “it is time” for voting shift in northern BC

Earlier this week, Shar McCrory was acclaimed as the BC NDP’s candidate for the Prince George-Mackenzie riding in the upcoming provincial election.

In an interview with My PG Now, McCrory said her diverse background makes her a strong candidate.

“I was born in a rural community in the west Kootenays and was part of a large mining family, and I worked at a sawmill for 10 years,” she said. “I have lived in communities that were very resource-focused. I understand how communities need support and change.”

McCrory has worked regionally for Northern Health over the last 10 years and currently serves on School District 57’s Board of Trustees.

“I really feel that I can offer experience in health care and education, which I have been an advocate for over 25 or 30 years,” she added. “I have [also] worked in municipal government, non-profit, and industry… I have a little bit of everything in the working world. I have always been an advocate for fair and equitable employment.”

The biggest challenges she said she sees regionally and provincially are healthcare, high costs of living, and affordable housing.

BC United (formerly the BC Liberals) have held the Prince George-Mackenzie riding since it was first created in 2009.

Pat Bell won the riding in 2009, Mike Morris won it in each of the three elections since (2013, 2017, and 2020).

When she was asked how she plans to break that streak, McCrory said “it is time.”

“It is time for the voices to be heard, it is time for the representation to support families and services,” she said. “We need to continue the work that the BC NDP party is doing in our communities with training, better jobs, and services like education, healthcare, and lower costs,” using $10 a day daycare as an example.

McCrory will be running against BC United candidate Kiel Giddens and BC Conservative candidate Rachael Weber.

Weber serves on the SD57 board alongside McCrory and was the board chair for the 2022-23 school year.

McCrory said she notified the board of her candidacy once it was official, but that she has “not spoken to Rachael” about it personally.

She ended the interview by saying she would like voters to know “as a community member, advocate, healthcare worker, volunteer, and a board member, I am passionate about supporting all people in all our communities.”

“I think I would make a great MLA because I will listen to the voices of the constituents and take those voices to Victoria.”

The provincial election will be held on October 19th.