Candidates Hit the Radio Airwaves

The Vernon Monashee candidates squared off on a debate on Kiss FM Wednesday night.

New Democrat Barry Dorval feels the Liberals made the wrong move to privatize laundry service at Interior hospitals.

“A business case was never made for that contracting out. It was a political decision and now some local laundry staff in the hospital are going to be left without positions.”

Liberal Eric Foster says a business case was made for the change, and he says with early retirement and taking other positions, there are no displaced employees.

Foster was again having to defend the plan for Highway 97 at Stickle Road during the forum.

Despite support for further reviews by the other candidates, the Liberal incumbent insists its been reviewed and it’s time to move ahead with extending 20th Street, with no left turns and no traffic light at the intersection.

“It’s been reviewed over and over. We’ve been talking about this for…this conversation went on when I was mayor of Lumby and chair with the regional district.”

Foster says he had many meetings with the car dealers and the Swan Lake Corridor Association.

“They are supportive of the program we’ve put forward.”

Dorval called it a bad solution, while Keli Westgate of the Greens would like to see the idea of a roundabout explored for that site.

Don Jefcoat of the Libertarian Party feels Foster should have discussed the issue more with people and the Ministry of Transportation should have taken people’s concerns seriously.

As for the biggest issue in the campaign, both Foster and Dorval said it was the need for more housing.

Westgate said it was the Site C dam which her party would scrap

“This is one area where we certainly differ from the other parties. The Green Party has unequivocally said we would stop this dam. We feel there has been enough research done and recently a UBC study said the economics of this dam don’t make sense,” said Westgate.

Dorval says the dam needs more review while Foster says the Liberals are fully behind it.

Photo: Vernon Monashee candidates take part in Kiss FM forum with News Director Pete McIntyre