The campaigns to decide who becomes the representatives in the next B.C. legislature are underway in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Green party candidate in Maple Ridge-Mission, Peter Tam, was first to open his campaign office on Lougheed Highway and 228th Street, a week ago.
On Saturday, Liberal candidate in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Doug Bing, opened his campaign headquarters in what used to be the Pantry Restaurant, next to the Quality Inn on Lougheed Highway.
The Quality Inn was controversial a year ago when BC Housing proposed it as the location for a temporary homeless shelter and supportive housing complex.
But the government, supported by Liberal MLAs, Bing and Marc Dalton, backed down on the proposal, resulting in the 40 people in the temporary homeless shelter now moving into the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries for six months, with a location for a new shelter yet to be found. The Quality Inn has since been rebranded and is now the Econo Lodge.
Employees last year, at the Pantry Restaurant, collected a petition against the conversion of Quality Inn.
However, the Pantry later closed for different reasons.
Bing said the space was available, has good visibility, was already equipped with tables and chairs and is being rented on a short-term basis until May 31.
He defended his stance against the Quality Inn becoming a supportive housing complex and shelter.
“I hope people remember I stood up for the community. I felt my job was to represent my constituents.”
Tam held a free skating session at Planet Ice on Saturday, hosted by the Green party. Elsa the Snow Queen, from the Disney movie Frozen, also showed up.
Tam is also hosting a job fair.
