Local MLA draws battle lines over B.C. election; accuses of NDP of ‘power grab’

Sep 21, 2020 | 2:11 PM

The veteran Liberal MLA for the Shuswap is not mincing words as B.C. begins its election campaign.

Greg Kyllo calls it “disgusting” and a “political power grab” that Premier John Horgan is “forcing British Columbians to go to the polls” a full year ahead of when an election has to be called.

“British Columbians should be absolutely furious that he is going to dissolve Parliament and put basically the government of British Columbia under care-taker mode for a couple months,” Kyllo told Vernon Matters.

Kyllo, a Sicamous-based former business owner, noted B.C. is dealing with one of the highest unemployment rates, and the largest deficit, in its history.

“We need to be focused on the best interests of British Columbians, not on the potential political future of John Horgan and the NDP.”

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Premier Horgan announced Monday the province will go to the polls Saturday Oct. 24 to determine if his minority government gets another mandate to govern during the COVID pandemic.

Kyllo will be running for his third term as the Shuswap MLA after collecting 56 per cent of the vote in the 2017, up from 47 per cent in 2013 after he replaced long-time Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott.

In 2017, Sylvia Lindgren of the NDP was second to Kyllo, while in 2013, Steve Gunner of the New Democrats was runner-up.

Between Kyllo and Abbott, the riding has been Liberal since 1996.

Kyllo feels Horgan is breaking his promise on the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) with the Green Party not to hold a snap election until the fall of 2021.

“He’s not a man of his word and I believe that British Columbians are going to be absolutely furious and that will be reflected in the outcome of the election,” he said.

The minority government has been propped up by the CASA deal with the Greens that included a provision for no snap election. But the Greens have just elected a new leader (Sonia Furstenau) and Horgan said the party is different than the one he signed with when Andrew Weaver was leader.

Watching @jjhorgan call an unnecessary election a year early during not only the worst health crisis in BC's history, but also the worst financial crisis as well.
Opportunism at its worst.#elxn2020 #electionBC @bcliberals pic.twitter.com/J4guIi8nIW

— Greg Kyllo Shuswap (@KylloGreg) September 21, 2020

Kyllo said he has no idea who he could be running against in the riding at this point.

“And that’s the unfortunate thing. We have fixed election dates for a reason so British Columbians can have certainty, and political parties can have certainty around the election timing. This is very unprecedented,” he said.

Kyllo said this election campaign will look very different than in the past.

“There won’t be the big political rallies, and all-candidate forums will likely all be going online through Zoom calls. We have yet to make a determination whether people will feel comfortable in allowing people to come to their doorstep and have a conversation and engage with the candidates,” Kyllo said.

Vernon Matters has messages into the BC Green and NDP parties to find out who may be seeking their nominations with just over four weeks until election day.

by Pete McIntyre

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