Christopher Foulds – Kamloops This Week
The three who would be the local Liberal candidate in next year’s federal election sat before an audience of about 150 on Thursday, Aug.28, and explained why they were seeking their party’s nomination.
In a word or two? Stephen Harper.
Teacher Steve Powrie, Kamloops Child Development Centre executive director Peter Mutrie and business and marketing consultant Niki Remesz all cited the prime minister and his government as compelling them, in some part, to run.
The forum, held at the Kamloops Coast Hotel and Conference Centre, was moderated by former mayor and former Kamloops Daily News editor Mel Rothenburger and included four pre-arranged questions and a few queries from those attending.
“The world needs better politicians,” Powrie said, arguing the Harper government is engaged on an attack on democracy, has a narrow agenda and has adopted a confrontational stance.
He said he is seeking the nomination because of the appeal of centrism, because of the rejuvenation of the Liberal party and because of “Stephen Harper and his merry band of followers.”
“If ever there was a time to have new ideas, fresh ideas, now is the time,” Mutrie said, noting Harper is following in the trickle-down economic theory lineage of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
“The trickle down theory does not necessarily work,” Mutrie said.
Remesz criticized the Harper government’s record on the economy, the environment, crime and the national debt.
Citing a recent letter to the editor in KTW, Remesz raised the issue of Conservative MPs toeing the party line at the expense of their constituents.
“The person representing this community is supposed to go to bat for that community.”
How to stem the problem of splitting the vote with the NDP was raised, with the three candidates noting the need to be explicit with voters in explaining a federal Liberal is not a provincial Grit.
And how to attract younger voters, the 18- to 25-year-old group, also elicited some ideas.
Tyler Carpentier, president of the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Liberal riding association, said the nomination meeting will likely take place in late September or early October.
