If your party wanted to make the Flathead a National Park would you vote against your party to keep the Flathead wild or support the party in making the Flathead a National Park?
The Flathead Valley is a special place and must be managed carefully. We have five open pit coal mines in the Elk Valley and it’s important that we keep the Flathead intact. That’s why I persuaded my government to remove mining & oil & gas from the Valley. That’s why I’ve also supported some AMA’s there to limit motorized access.
Most already know from my record that I will always stand up to Victoria and stop a Flathead Park, no matter who is suggesting it. I do believe, however, that the NDP record on standing up for the people of the Elk Valley is not the same. When the NDP wanted to bring in a grizzly bear hunting moratorium, Erda Walsh caved in to her party. When the coal mines were struggling, then mines minister Ann Edwards caved in to her party. An NDP MLA cannot be trusted to stand strong against the pressures that would be brought to bear on her.
Last week at the Fernie Forum, the NDP candidate, in answer to this question, said, “I am only one vote.” I suggest that is the answer that reveals how much she would fight for us.