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Stetski endorsed by a number of Kootenay politicians
Kootenay-Columbia NDP members March 15 welcomed a full house of supporters who signed up to participate in the upcoming election campaign.
“The message sent by the people of this area was clear today,” said Kootenay-Columbia NDP candidate Wayne Stetski. “People reject the Harper Conservative plan for Canada, and they are going to work to make a change in the next election.”
Traditionally, party nomination events are a time when only members of the political party gather, but Stetski was determined that the official start of his campaign would include a wide cross-section of the community and riding.
The event featured a World Café issues forum where participants were able to bring their thoughts and ideas forward on a range of topics from democratic reform to building a sustainable economy.
“I want to be the next Member of Parliament for Kootenay-Columbia, and in preparation for that role, I need to hear from everyone,” continued Stetski. “The current MP has clearly stated that he can only vote the way Stephen Harper tells him to, even if his constituents disagree. That’s not good enough for the people in this area.”
Stetski Sunday received the endorsement of a number of key regional political figures including: the current MP for BC Southern Interior Alex Atamanenko; MLA for Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall; MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald; Katrine Conroy, MLA Kootenay West; former MLAs Ed Conroy and Anne Edwards; Mayor Gerry Taft of the District of Invermere; Cranbrook City Councillor Norma Blissett and Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area G Director Gerry Wilkie.
Norm Macdonald said he was proud to stand in support of Stetski. “Wayne is a true democrat. Electing Wayne Stetski will bring democracy back to this area,” said Macdonald.
“Wayne Stetski knows the whole Kootenay area and its people,” said former MLA for Cranbrook Anne Edwards. “He was Cranbrook’s most inclusive mayor and a visionary.”
But Edwards’ highest praise for Stetski was a phrase that her father used. “He is a decent man.”
Carly Eldred, who was the first of 10 area endorsers to address the crowd, spoke of Stetski’s work with Cranbrook’s youth.
“Mr. Stetski values and celebrates youth in the community,” said Eldred. “He sees youth as future leaders, and treats them as such.”
“Today was a party to celebrate the start of this campaign, but tomorrow we are getting down work, starting with two events in Nelson. Over the next seven months I’ll be travelling throughout the area, meeting with voters and learning about their issues,” stated Stetski.
As the former Kootenay Regional Manager for the BC Ministry of Environment, Stetski is familiar with the large riding of Kootenay-Columbia. Stetski oversaw staff and offices in Cranbrook, Nelson, Revelstoke and Invermere.
“Yesterday I stood in the rain with a large group of citizens in Cranbrook who were protesting the Conservatives’ Anti Terror legislation C-51, a bill that will result in the diminishment of our freedoms. And all across this country, people gathered, showing their determination to fight this degradation of our rights.
“And that determination is what I saw in the people who joined our campaign today. They are ready to work as hard as it takes to ensure that we send a strong NDP voice to Ottawa after the next election,” Stetski stated.
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