Stepping into a candidate role midway through an election campaign is not something that everyone could pull off.
Saanich resident Luke Krayenhoff is hoping to do his best to make an impact in the 17 days until the federal election as the Liberal PartyB次元官网网址檚 candidate in the realigned and renamed Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding.
B次元官网网址淚t places me in the underdog position, but the party as a whole has been great in getting the message out and Trudeau has been doing great in the debates,B次元官网网址� he says.
Chosen to replace Maria Manna, who announced Monday she was stepping down, Krayenhoff has had to rally the troops quickly this week to get his campaign up and running. Having already contested the Liberal nomination in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding that includes much of the West Shore, he was previously vetted by the party, he says.
Sounding like a team player, Krayenhoff graciously chalked up his loss to David Merner in that nomination race as good for the Liberals.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 kind of a superstar in the party, heB次元官网网址檚 an easy guy to lose to.B次元官网网址�
As a former RCMP officer whoB次元官网网址檚 worked in government to help streamline police services, not to mention lived near the Royal Canadian NavyB次元官网网址檚 Pacific Fleet for most of his life, Krayenhoff holds a special place in his heart for current and former service people. B次元官网网址淰eterans issues are a top priority for me,B次元官网网址� he says.
At the same time, in this riding heB次元官网网址檚 conscious of the traffic issues that have become worse as Langford, especially, has grown. While heB次元官网网址檚 pleased the province has taken initial steps on an interchange at McKenzie/Admirals roads and the Trans Canada Highway B次元官网网址� located in the other riding B次元官网网址� more can be done, he says.
B次元官网网址淲e really have to get going on transportation initiatives; weB次元官网网址檝e really got to get that Highway 1 moving,B次元官网网址� he says. While transit solutions have to be part of the overall solution, he adds, B次元官网网址渢he other one is the rail.B次元官网网址�
He points to the success of light rail transit on the mainland and says itB次元官网网址檚 Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 turn to start building an efficient, effective commuter system using the existing rail bed along the E & N line.
B次元官网网址淚 know the Island Corridor Foundation has been struggling along to get things going, working to get funding commitments, but IB次元官网网址檇 like to see the feds and province step in to help.B次元官网网址�
In terms of job creation and economic strategies, Krayenhoff appreciates the LIberalsB次元官网网址� balanced approach. Having worked many years in the public and private sectors in what he calls B次元官网网址渃hange management,B次元官网网址� he has a pretty clear idea how the system should work.
B次元官网网址淭he role of government is to set the stage for the private sector to create wealth,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭he idea is not to get everybody working for the civil service, itB次元官网网址檚 to have a good foundation to grow the economy. Government can be kind of a baffling thing, and itB次元官网网址檚 important to know (its) limitations and I think I do.B次元官网网址�
Acknowledging the ridingB次元官网网址檚 diversity, from the more agricultural, resource base of the Cowichan Valley in the north to the more urban development-minded tone of Langford, with First Nations playing a role throughout,
Krayenhoff says he feels the Liberals have the best plan that works for all.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people who are going to vote strategically to unseat Harper, but I really think the Liberals have the best chance of forming government; we have the most credibility,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淥nce youB次元官网网址檙e in, you have to have a good set of policies, and we do.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
