Newsline 250-552-6477 Read all about itCOVID-19: Two hundred thirty-four new cases in B.C.; seven more cases in Northern Health area bringing total to 406 Snowfall warning issued for Pine Pass Zimmer votes against bill banning conversion therapy, says wording was concerning New allowable annual cut levels set for Haida Gwaii management units Celebrate B.C. women entrepreneurs with #WEcreateBC Near universal support for a pharmacare plan covering Canadians’ prescription drug costs COVID-19: Two hundred eighty-seven new cases in B.C.; 16 new cases in Northern Health area bringing total to 399 What friends do for friends Several people injured in three-vehicle crash involving stolen truck and ambulance Police seek public’s help locating missing woman Bennett not seeking re-election as school board chair Take the Candy Cruise this Halloween … no tricks, all treats Changing season means lots of changes of clothes COVID-19: Two hundred seventeen new cases in B.C.; no new cases in Northern Health area Copper Project 2019 injects cash into health care Treat yourself to a safe Halloween Horgan says majority government means he can spend more time in rural B.C. In support of developing B.C.’s natural gas industry COVID-19: Limits put on household gatherings Enbridge major sponsor YMCA of Northern B.C.’s Beyond the Bell program LUMBER (WSPF-2X4) – $620 +5.1%LUMBER (WSPF-2X6) – $620 +6.9%PLYWOOD – $649 +2.0%Canadian Dollar – $.74798 (USD) Election 2020Horgan says majority government means he can spend more time in rural B.C.October 27, 2020Having a majority NDP government will allow John Horgan to spend more time in Interior communities. The premier-elect, who did not visit Prince George or other norther communities during the recent election campaign, says he will be spending more time outside of Victoria. While the NDP did make some gains in the southern Interior, the northern ridings remained solidly Liberal. “I would have liked to have seen better results in rural British Columbia and I’ll continue to work hard to work on those relationships to get a better understanding of the challenges of rural British Columbia.” He said the party had some good candidates in the Interior, pointing to Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson who ran in Prince George-Mackenzie but who polled well behind incumbent Liberal Mike Morris. “She’s still the mayor of Mackenzie and I’ll still be working with her to represent her issues and her values and the values of north and central B.C. in Victoria,” Horgan said. He said he believes the NDP made the gains it did because they were talking about issues that matter to British Columbians such as “seniors care, child care, education, transportation.” He admitted he will have to work harder to have the NDP message resonate in rural British Columbia. “Having a majority government will allow me to get out of Victoria,” he said. “(We’re) tied in the Legislature for big chunks of the year. I’ll be able to travel, more freely, to other parts of the province and be the spokesperson for the issues that we’re bringing forward that will benefit rural British Columbia.” He pointed to “serious” issues in the forest sector and he’ll have more “hands on” work there to revitalize the forest industry.... Voter turnout estimated at just over 52 per centOctober 26, 2020Elections BC estimates that at least 52.4 per cent of registered voters voted in the 2020 Provincial General Election. This is a preliminary estimate of voter turnout based on the following: the number of voters who voted during advance voting, in their electoral district the number of voters who voted on Election Day, at their assigned voting place an estimate of the number of certification envelopes containing absentee ballots, to be considered at final count an estimate of the number of completed vote-by-mail packages containing mail-in ballots, to be considered at final count A total of 670,324 voters voted in their electoral district during the advance voting period, and 546,877 voters voted on Election Day at their assigned voting place. An estimated 85,000 certification envelopes containing absentee ballots will be considered for final count. These ballots were cast at absentee voting opportunities during advance voting, on Election Day, and throughout the campaign period (at voting opportunities such as voting at a district electoral office or a special voting opportunity). As of October 24, Elections BC had received approximately 525,000 mail-in ballots, though this figure does not include mail-in ballots returned by voters in person to voting places or district electoral offices before the deadline of 8 p.m. Pacific time on October 24. The preliminary estimate of voter turnout will likely increase when mail-in ballots dropped off in person are accounted for. Elections BC will update its estimate of the number of mail-in ballots when a more accurate count is available. As of September 26, there were 3,485,858 registered voters in B.C. In the 2017 Provincial General Election, 61.18% of registered voters voted, and there were 1,986,374 valid votes. The number of valid votes in 2020 could be comparable, at around 1.8 million. However, the number of registered voters has increased since 2017, resulting in a lower percentage of registered voters voting. In the 2017 provincial election, there were 3,246,647 registered voters in B.C. Elections BC will publish an updated figure for voter turnout once more accurate figures are available.... BC election 2020: “The Queen gave them the whole bag”October 26, 2020BY PETER EWART Special to the News Once again, the October 2020 election in British Columbia shows how distorted the current first past the post electoral system is and how it concentrates power in ways that go against the will of the people. In the 2020 election, the NDP received just 45.03 per cent of the vote (figures based on unofficial counts with mail-in votes yet to be counted). Under the first past the post system, despite having a minority of the provincial vote, it will now constitute a majority government holding 55 of the 87 seats in the Legislature (which amounts to 63.2 per cent of the seats). In effect, it increased its seat total by 14 seats although its share of the popular vote only increased by five per cent (from 40.29 per cent in the 2017 election). For its part, the BC Liberal Party has obtained 29 seats with 33.3 per cent of the popular vote, the Greens three seats with 15.3 per cent, the Conservatives zero seats with 2.35 per cent, and other parties zero seats with 1.9 per cent. Under a proportional representation electoral system, however, the results of the 2020 election would look substantially different. With a PR system, the aim is to have the breakdown of the seats in the Legislature to at least approximate the results of the popular vote. For example, in the 2020 election, having a PR system in place would mean, first of all, that the NDP would not have a majority government. Instead, in the 87-seat Legislature, the NDP would hold around 39 seats (rather than 55), the Liberals around 31 seats (rather than 29), the Greens around 13 seats (rather than three), and the Conservatives around two seats (rather than zero). After this election, with the existing first past the post system, many voters in vast areas of the province will not have MLAs who represent their political preference. For example, it looks like the Liberals will be completely frozen out of Vancouver Island’s 14 seats despite a substantial number of residents voting for that party. And the same is true for much of the northeast and central interior of the province where the Liberals dominate and the NDP, Greens and Conservatives are frozen out despite substantial support. After his party won the provincial election in 1972, former NDP Premier Dave Barrett quipped to the press that “the Queen gave us the whole bag” (1). What he meant by this was that, under the first past the post electoral system, the premier’s office takes on great powers and that “once power is bestowed … it is the government’s prerogative to use it.” Once a premier is elected, he or she controls the cabinet, the government ministries, the Legislature, as well as the party itself – and there is little or no check on this power. As the late former Social Credit MLA Rafe Mair pointed out, these political parties, whatever their stripe, “love absolute power” and the “authoritarianism inherent in the first past the post system, and “would rather wait until they had 100 per cent authority than ever share power with the hated other side.” Yes, one day in every four years we get to vote. But for the rest of those 1,460 days or so, we live under a kind of elected dictatorship where people have no control over the decisions that affect their lives. The point in all this is that the voters of British Columbia are disempowered by the electoral system and the domination of the cartel parties. Powerful interest groups like this arrangement, including the huge globalized corporations, because it allows them to knock on only one door to get their way. Proportional representation does not solve the fundamental problem of voter disempowerment but at least provides a better reflection of voters’ wishes. British Columbia has had a number of referenda on electoral reform, the most recent being the referendum proposal in 2018 to adopt PR (which was defeated). However, whether one is for or against proportional representation, the problems posed by the first past the post system and the larger issue of voter empowerment remain. Barrett, Dave, and William Miller. “Barrett: A Passionate Political Life.” Vancouver, Douglas & McIntyre, 1995. Peter Ewart is a writer and community activist based in Prince George, BC. He can be reached at: peter.ewart@shaw.ca... Wilkinson resigns at Liberal leaderOctober 26, 2020Andrew Wilkinson is stepping down as leader of the B.C. Liberals. He made the announcement Monday following Saturday’s election which saw the party go from 41 seats in the Legislature to 29 seats. In brief statement Wilkinson said he will stay on until a new leader is chosen. Premier-elect John Horgan issued a short statement on Wilkinson’s resignation. “I want to thank Andrew Wilkinson for his service and dedication to the people of British Columbia in his role as Opposition leader,” Horgan said. “I’ve done that job, and I’ve often said it is the toughest job in politics. Mr. Wilkinson led the official opposition through a very challenging time for our province. He ran a spirited campaign and I wish him the best in the future. “Mr. Wilkinson has made our province and our civic life stronger by offering his ideas and his vision for our province. We are all better for his contributions. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all candidates from all parties who put their names forward in the election. Our democracy requires brave people to put their hands up, no matter the result.” The party’s executive council is set to meet over the weekend to discuss a leadership race.... Updated vote counts for Prince George ridingsOctober 26, 2020Mail-in ballots have yet to be counted.... Horgan addresses British Columbians following election winOctober 24, 2020... NDP candidate Laura Parent concedes defeatOctober 24, 2020... Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson speaks following likely election lossOctober 24, 2020... Bond, Morris, Rustad re-elected as NDP secure majorityOctober 24, 2020It appears that Liberal incumbents in the Prince George area will be heading back to Victoria. Even though most pundits are now calling an NDP majority government, polls indicate that Liberals Shirley Bond, Mike Morris, John Rustad will be re-elected. With 42 of 88 ballot boxes counted, Bond has 3,227 votes, which amounts to 58.28 per cent of the vote. New Democrat Laura Parent is in second place with 1,355 votes (24.7 per cent), Green Party candidate Mackenzie Kerr has 813 votes (14.68 per cent), and Libertarian Sean Robson has 142 votes (2.56 per cent). With 56 of 82 ballot boxes in Prince George-Mackenzie counted, Liberal Mike Morris has 4,654 votes, good for 52.52 per cent of the vote. In second place is New Democrat Joan Atkinson with 2,779 votes (31.78 per cent), Green Party candidate Catharine Kendall has 1,070 votes (12.07 per cent), Dee Kranz of the Christian Heritage Party with 201 votes (2.27 per cent), and Libertarian Raymond Rodgers 159 votes (1.79 per cent). With 54 of 83 ballot boxes counted in Nechako Lakes, Liberal John Rustad 2,388 votes or 50.49 per cent. In second place is New Democrat Anne Marie Sam with 1,614 (34.12 per cent), Libertarian John Rempel with 250 votes (5.29 per cent), Dan Stuart of the Christian Heritage Party with 249 votes (5.26 per cent), and independent Margo Maley with 229 (4.84 per cent).... Get out and vote SaturdayOctober 23, 2020If you do you do only one thing tomorrow … make sure it’s getting out to vote. That is, of course, unless you voted in the advance polls or mailed in your ballot, like hundreds of thousands of people seem to be doing this election. Tomorrow is election day and tomorrow night we’ll know who will form government or, more likely, we’ll know that we’ll know a couple of weeks from now when the mail in ballots are counted. Whether you voted in the advance polls, by mail, or plan to vote tomorrow, the important thing is that you voted. Editorial writers often point to a multitude of places around the world where people don’t have the option of voting as an example of why we shouldn’t be complacent here and get out and vote. But this year, we need only to point to the country that likes to boast it is the greatest democracy in the world and spent much of the last century trying to bring democracy, at least its version, to countries around the world … the grand old U.S. of A. Democracy is under attack in the United States and, scarily, when the U.S. coughs, we catch a cold (or maybe COVID-19). We need only to look to the United States to see how important it is get out and vote. We’re not in as dire a situation here and the shenanigans in Ottawa this week deserve nothing more than an eye-roll, but for democracy to survive, we have to vote. Here in Prince George we have lots of great choices on the ballot. Whether you’re in Prince George-Valemount or Prince George-Mackenzie, the choices are tough because we have great candidates in both. You don’t have to vote for a party you don’t like because you don’t like it less than the others. Take a look at who you think will best represent your issues in Victoria … you won’t be disappointed in the choices before you. And, if you’re not planning to vote this year … smarten up. Get out and vote.... ViewpointsChanging season means lots of changes of clothesOctober 28, 2020 In support of developing B.C.’s natural gas industryOctober 27, 2020 Shedding the destructive legacy of the baby boomersOctober 23, 2020 Talk PG talks with Prince George-Valemount NDP candidate Laura ParentOctober 22, 2020 We know who to blame the snow onOctober 21, 2020 Touring the ridingOctober 20, 2020 Our leaderless campaignOctober 19, 2020 When guilt is acknowledged, forgiveness can be earnedOctober 17, 2020 Debate was dull – but just what we neededOctober 15, 2020 Little things can mean a lotOctober 14, 2020 SportsSpruce Kings drop 2-1 decision to Centennials in first pre-season gameOctober 26, 2020A late goal from Ben Ward with three seconds left on the power-play was the game winner as the Merritt Centennials get their first win of the pre-season, defeating the Prince George Spruce Kings 2-1 on a Sunday afternoon at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Merritt opened the scoring 4:07 into the second period on […]... Read more...WHL allows players to play at Junior A, Junior B and U-18 levelsOctober 26, 2020The Western Hockey League has granted temporary transfers for WHL roster players to continue their development by playing competitive hockey at the Junior A, Junior B, and Under-18 levels. “This is an opportunity for WHL roster players to continue their development by playing hockey at a competitive level,” stated WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “We felt it […]... Read more...Goaltender Jordan Fairlie commits to the Spruce KingsOctober 17, 2020Goaltender Jordan Fairlie (’02) has committed to the Prince George Spruce Kings for the 2020-21 season. “We are very familiar with Jordan and what he is capable of as a goaltender,” said GM Mike Hawes. “ With that in mind, we are excited to be adding him to our roster.” Fairlie, who hails from Fort […]... Read more...WHL set to start season on January 8October 15, 2020The Western Hockey League Board of Governors announced Thursday the WHL regular season is scheduled to open on Friday, January 8, 2021. The WHL continues to work with each of the governments and health authorities in the provinces and states in western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, respectively, on obtaining the necessary approvals to commence play. […]... Read more...Canada West members to decide fate of remaining 2020-21 schedule by November 2October 13, 2020Canada West announced Friday that it will delay the decision on whether second term conference competition proceeds in the New Year until no later than November 2. The initial deadline for a decision was scheduled for October 8. Following feedback from student-athletes, the conference’s Board of Directors voted earlier this week to delay a decision […]... Read more...Cougars to hold second Pro-D Day hockey schoolOctober 13, 2020The Prince George Cougars have announced a second Pro-D Day Hockey School, presented by Schultz Craftsman Collision, on Friday, October 23 at the KIN 2 Arena. The second in a series of Pro-D Day hockey camps will include one-hour ice sessions for minor hockey players of all skill levels. Each ice session is $35, which […]... Read more...Spruce Kings chalk up first win of pre-season in MerrittOctober 12, 2020Rowan Miller, Max Borovinskiy, and Nick Rheaume all scored their first goals in Spruce King colours, while Aaron Trotter got his first win as a Spruce King making 27 saves to lead the Spruce Kings to a 4-1 win to kick off the pre-season. At 10:06 of the first period, Rowan Miller netted his first […]... Read more...Spruce Kings acquire Main from Wenatchee WildSeptember 28, 2020The Prince George Spruce Kings have acquired D Tanner Main (’00) from the Wenatchee Wild in exchange for future considerations. Main finished the 2019-20 campaign with two goals and 17 assists in 54 games played. The 5’10, 160 pound 20 year old is also committed to playing NCAA Division 1 Hockey at Bentley University in […]... Read more...Cougars to hold Pro-D Day hockey school Sept. 25September 14, 2020The Prince George Cougars will be hosting its inaugural Pro-D Day Hockey School on Friday, September 25 at the KIN 2 Arena. The first in a series of Pro-D Day hockey camps will include one-hour ice sessions for elite and recreational level players. All ice sessions will be instructed by the Cougars’ coaching staff, led […]... Read more...BCHL committed to 2020-21 season, even it games can’t have fans in the standsSeptember 14, 2020The BC Hockey League board of governors has unanimously approved a COVID-19 alternative plan to fulfill the 2020-21 season. The alternative will be implemented in the event that Provincial Health Office (PHO) regulations do not allow arena capacity that provides needed gate revenue for BCHL teams. In the case that the original request for 25 […]... Read more... Our Town What friends do for friends Take the Candy Cruise this Halloween … no tricks, all treats Enbridge major sponsor YMCA of Northern B.C.’s Beyond the Bell program Prince George Community Foundation celebrates 25th anniversary with $25,000 grant Claiming Spaces encourages women leaders David Mah memorial benches to be unveiled on Wednesday Charity extends support for Prince George residents wanting info about dementia or memory loss Grace Dove stars in Monkey Beach GoFundMe campaign for jogger severely injured after being hit by car raises more than $20,000 Second round of emergency community support fund taking applications Calendar Advertise Journalism
