Barbara Roden
Black Press
Four federal political parties have officially named candidates in the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley. The most recent candidate is Brad Layton, who received the Liberal nomination on Aug. 19. He joins Nathan Cullen (NDP), Tyler Nesbitt (Conservative), and Donald Spratt (Christian Heritage Party) in the contest for the riding. The Green Party, which has announced plans to run in each of the country’s 338 ridings, has yet to name a candidate in Skeena-Bulkley Valley.
Layton, who works in the forest industry and had just started his second term as a Councillor in the village of Telkwa, was the only person seeking the Liberal nomination in the riding. He does not plan to start heavy campaigning until mid-September, when a traditional 37-day federal election period would normally be starting.
He will be going up against heavyweight incumbent Nathan Cullen, who has held the riding for the NDP since 2004. The four-term Member of Parliament spent two years (2012-14) as House Leader of the NDP in the House of Commons, and in 2014 was named “Most Knowledgeable MP” by Maclean’s Magazine in its annual “Parliamentarian of the Year” awards.
Tyler Nesbitt, born and raised in Prince Rupert and now a resident of Terrace, has a B.A. in anthropology from UBC. The 32-year-old father of three works as a construction manager for the Nechako Group of Companies. Donald Spratt has served as a pastor, gospel singer, recording artist, Bible teacher, evangelist, and missionary. Over the last 45 years he has also owned and operated various construction, sales, and installation businesses, and has worked as a paramedic, business development manager, salesman, and machinery operator.
The federal election will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, with advance voting taking place from Oct. 9-12. For information about where and how to vote, visit the Elections Canada website at www.elections.ca