Premier Christy Clark has said she will not be calling a fall election, and even said she will be waiting to have an election when the next one is scheduled, which is May of 2013.
But there is at least some pre-election action taking place in the Nechako-Lakes riding, as Mike Summers has come forward to seek the NDP candidacy.
Summers is on disability, with Multiple Schlerosis (MS), and while his mobility is an issue, Summer said he is “able to use my mouth still.”
While many might remember Summers as the previous leader of the BC Refederation Party, he said he has left the party to re-engage with the NDP, because the smaller party wasn’t really going anywhere.
Previously involved with the NDP, Summers said he became disenchanted with the party during Mike Harcourt’s leadership of the party, saying the party “betrayed the people” with some of the legislation they put in place. Summers said he has a strong belief in direct democracy, and was happy the HST was voted out.
“I loved it because the people spoke,” said Summers.
While the Nechako-Lakes area voted to keep the HST, Summers said he believes this is because the PST has been so hard on agriculture, a major industry in the area.
He wants to now work towards fixing the tax system and the PST to give farmers a break.
Summers is also concerned the Liberal government is selling off B.C.’s infrastructure such as BC Hydro, BC Ferries, and BC Medicare.
“B.C. cannot take another Liberal government,” said Summers.
With a new hospital for Burns Lake a focus of his, Summers would like to see a more “European-style” education system in which local people are trained for health care positions.
He would also like to see a restoration of BC Hydro back to what he calls the original idea, to generate cheap power for B.C. for the long-term.
“We’ve been flim-flammed and bamboozled by the Liberals for 10 years,” said Summers, referring to the sale of BC Rail and the implementation of the HST.
The one obstacle still to be overcome in his nomination, however, is the $500 application fee.
Being on disability, Summers says he just doesn’t have the money right now, but is working with the party on this.
While Summers says his prognosis with MS is not great, he wants to make the most of his time.
“With what time I have to serve, I want to make this a better place for my having been here,” said Summers. “I know that time is of the essence.”