MLA CANDIDATE ISSUE #4 – How important is the U.S. Trade war to voters

“I haven’t heard anyone on the doors talking about Donald Trump, so I think it was a bit of a red herring for the premier,” said Peter Milobar, Kamloops Centre Conservative incumbent candidate. “Lets be clear it was a snap election while he had a majority less than two years into his four year mandate. It was totally unnecessary, on top of that it’s in the middle of a (civic) election. We’ve committed to make sure that we would change the laws to never allow this to happen again where there would have to be at least a 60 day window in-between a civic election and provincial election. To make sure that those civic elections that are critically important, as a former mayor I know just how important these election are for the people that have put their names on the ballot, for their volunteers, for their supporters and for the voters of those cities to have a clear space to actually deal with their civic election and not be bound by this provincial political games being played out by Mr. (David) Eby.”

“No it’s not but it is an issue,” added Ward Stamer, Kamloops North Thompson Conservative incumbent candidate, “Having the tariffs particularly in are forest industry isn’t helping. The tariffs actually came down, they are actually down to 35 per cent instead of 45 per cent, so that is a little bit of good news. But again we have to be able to hammer out a softwood lumber agreement with the federal government and their federal government and make sure that we have certainty into their markets and at the same time be able to advance our diversification around the world.”

The NDP have backed off the early election Trump push, but maintain the trade war is tied to many of the issues circulating in B.C.

“The U.S. and the trade issues underlie everything, right now we see that,” said Mike Wisla, Kamloops Centre NDP candidate. “I have an appointment to buy new tires, first thing the tire salesman said is it’s going to cost way more this year because of the tariffs. It’s everywhere. So we have a plan, we have to diversify our economy. We’ve are making permanent the rural diversification fund, the industrial funds and the buy B.C. program is expanding. We expand our markets and we will expand our capacity and move forward.”

Annelise beach and the BC Greens not believe the trade war is truly why David Eby called the election.

“I think the snap election was called so he (David Eby) could hold onto power for a longer amount of time and it’s costing our province millions of dollars to host this election, on top of a municipal election,” said Beach, Kamloops Centre.

OneBC’s Rocky McAfee said his party is focused on north of the border, saying the U.S. shouldn’t blamed for issues caused by the federal government.

“Canada and the U.S. have been brothers-in-arms for 300 years,” said McAfee. “And as for as we are concerned, OneBC wants to focus on Canada and have all the provinces work together to keep Canada, Canada. People make comments about blaming the us for this and that, but a lot of it started with our own federal government. I wouldn’t get into that because I’m focusing on B.C. and Kamloops.”

Thaelo Proctor does not believe the U.S. is the biggest issue facing voters in the province.

“I don’t think the U.S. is the biggest issue for B.C. voters,” began Proctor, Kamloops Centre independent candidate. “I will say there is so many huge us corporations that just really taking advantage of our resources. And I think that is great place for any politician to be standing up to the U.S., creating opportunities, for British Columbians to be making businesses, creating jobs. Not just relying on the United States. And the tax on huge corporations and the ultra-wealthy that is going to push the United States out and bring opportunities for everyday British Columbians to create businesses, create just independent jobs. Our industries aren’t going anywhere, the people with control over them will definitely change if I’m in office”

Election day is Saturday, October 24.

NDP candidate for Kamloops-North-Thompson Kory Clark was not available. OneBC Kamloops North-Thompson candidate Deborah Friesen did not wish to be interviewed.

by Michael Reeve

MLA CANDIDATE ISSUE #4 – How important is the U.S. Trade war to voters

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