Juan de Fuca MLA logs long miles in search of NDP leadership

In politics, a key issue is usually the economy B次元官网网址� a message that has hit home for John Horgan as he crisscrosses the province on the B.C. NDP campaign trail.

Now two months into his campaign to lead the NDP and ultimately become premier, the Juan de Fuca MLA and Langford resident said he has a new appreciation for the economic woes of northern B.C.

ItB次元官网网址檚 territory heB次元官网网址檚 covered as energy critic, but looking deeper at the struggling resource economy, such as the transfer of lumber mills to China and contraction of commercial fishing, is unsettling.

B次元官网网址淭he economy in northwest B.C. is in desperate condition, the depopulation of Prince Rupert and Terrace is stark,B次元官网网址� Horgan said in a phone interview from Terrace.

B次元官网网址淭hat kind of poverty is something people in Victoria and Vancouver donB次元官网网址檛 have a full appreciation of. The rural community poverty is hidden. They have homes that arenB次元官网网址檛 heated, the fridge is empty. ItB次元官网网址檚 the kind of poverty you donB次元官网网址檛 hear about.B次元官网网址�

Horgan said northern residents are receptive to the NDP message, or at least his message of welcoming and supporting private sector growth, as long as it respects the environment and pays its fair share of taxes.

B次元官网网址淭hat gets a lot of head nods in the crowd,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.

At a B.C. Chamber of Commerce meeting in Vancouver, he acknowledged the problems of industry and the uncertainty created by the B.C. LiberalB次元官网网址檚 introduction of the HST.

B次元官网网址淣ot everybody is enthusiastic for the B.C. Liberals at this point,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淢y message is of certainty. We want a prosperous private sector, but not at the expense of social development.B次元官网网址�

In February, Horgan backtracked on his opposition to the carbon tax on fossil fuels, and released an environmental platform that pledged a moratorium on new run-of-river power projects and "transitioning away" from open-pen fish farms off the B.C. coast.

Horgan said the carbon tax must be expanded to cover large industrial emitters that have certain exemption, such as in the oil and gas sector, and cement producers. He would direct that extra carbon tax to projects such as light rapid transit or commuter rail in Greater Victoria, projects that Horgan have gained little traction within the Liberal government.

B次元官网网址淭he B次元官网网址榓xe the taxB次元官网网址� slogan was wrong. A better approach is fix the tax,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to expand the tax, and not at the gas pump. We want to include large industrial emitters.B次元官网网址�

Horgan has spent time trying to build support in the Kootenays, where he ended up catching a lift to the coast with three 20-something snowboarders. Hanging out with a politician wasnB次元官网网址檛 in their day to day experience, and it gave Horgan direct insight in what younger people view as problems.

B次元官网网址淚 had my own snowboarder focus group for nine hours,B次元官网网址� said Horgan, who at 51 is a prolific Tweeter. B次元官网网址淭hey were very interested in issues of today, but they didnB次元官网网址檛 relate the issues to politics. It was just issues, it was just their lives.B次元官网网址�

Upcoming weeks will be filled with NDP leadership all-candidate meetings across Metro Vancouver and Interior, where Horgan said he needs to build up bases of support. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not ignoring the Island, but I need to make an impact on the Lower Mainland.B次元官网网址�

Despite pundits suggesting otherwise, Horgan said new B.C. Liberal leader and Premier Christy Clark isnB次元官网网址檛 a huge threat to the Opposition. B次元官网网址淎ll Christy Clark has changed is the slogan,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he Liberal brand is tired and the public isnB次元官网网址檛 in a position to trust the Liberals.B次元官网网址�

Horgan also remarked that B次元官网网址渢he guy from the IslandB次元官网网址� is a better candidate than his two main rivals B次元官网网址� MLAs Adrian Dix and Mike Farnworth B次元官网网址� due to their connections with previous NDP governments.

B次元官网网址淚 represent change better than my two colleagues,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 speak the truth and ask for confidence from the public to improve the lot of B.C. families.B次元官网网址�

B.C. NDP members will vote for a new leader April 17.

-- with files from Tom Fletcher

editor@goldstreamgazette.com