By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The writs have been issued for British Columbia’s 43rd Provincial General Election, with eligible voters able to vote from now until the final voting day Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
“Eligible voters can vote from now until polls close on Final Voting Day,” said Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman.
“B.C. has the most accessible voting system in Canada. Voters can cast their ballot at any district electoral office, at advance voting, by mail, or on Final Voting Day, and I encourage all eligible voters to cast their ballot and participate in British Columbia’s democracy.”
In the Boundary-Similkameen riding three candidates are vying for the MLA seat including incumbent Roly Russell (BC NDP), Sean Taylor (Independent) and Donegal Wilson (Conservative Party).
Born and raised in rural Grand Forks, Roly Russell is a father of two who says lowering costs for families, strengthening agriculture and food security, and building an economy that works for everyone in rural BC are key issues for him.
Locally he points to his efforts in helping constituents in need and coordinating disaster recovery during the devastating floods in Grand Forks in 2018 as well as disaster recovery following the atmospheric rivers in 2021.
“He has served as a tireless advocate for rural communities across BC, working across ministries to help deliver solutions that work for rural people,” his bio reads.
“People in our communities have been through a lot — from the pandemic, to global inflation and climate-related disasters . . . that’s why it’s more important than ever that we have a leader who’s on our side, rather than paving the way for powerful interests that take advantage of people again.”
Sean Taylor is a longtime British Columbia emergency services worker and community activist. Taylor is also a 20-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran (ret.) with combat experience in Afghanistan.
“I’ve spent my life serving my country and my community,” says Taylor, “and my ongoing political involvement has been the natural evolution of that,” he said.
Taylor is not new to the campaign trail having twice unsuccessfully run for office at the Federal level, most recently as a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC).
This time he’s running as an independent saying: “It’s become clear to British Columbians that party politics have failed them. Our needs are pretty simple. People need an affordable place to live, reasonable taxes, reliable healthcare, and the chance to earn a decent living.
“Unfortunately, the old party politicians seem more interested in serving themselves than they are in serving the needs of hard-working Canadians.”
And new to the electoral race is Donegal Wilson who is running for the Conservative Party of BC. Born in Summerland and raised on a cattle ranch in the Otter Valley near Tulameen, Wilson now lives in Keremeos.
Donegal’s career began in administration with various small businesses and non-profit organizations and in 2012, she became the Executive Director of the BC Snowmobile Federation.
Wilson said her vision includes supporting economic development, enhancing healthcare services, and bolstering support for small businesses.
This includes implementing “practical solutions to address the unique challenges of the region, such as promoting sustainable tourism, improving infrastructure, and fostering community well-being.”
Her bio stated a “deep commitment to her community and extensive experience in business management and non-profit leadership, Donegal aims to bring effective representation to the region.”
Voting is available now at any district electoral office. Elections BC has opened offices in every electoral district in the province. Office locations and hours are listed at elections.bc.ca/offices.
Advance voting will be available October 10 – 13 and October 15 – 16, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (local time). All advance voting locations are wheelchair accessible, and it is a great option if you need more time to vote. Advance voting will be closed Monday, October 14 (for Thanksgiving).
Voting by mail is an option for all eligible voters, and is a great option for voters who will be away from the province during advance voting and on Final Voting Day.
Voters can request a vote-by-mail package online at votebymail.elections.bc.ca, by phone at 1-800-661-8683, or in person at any district electoral office. The completed package must be received by Elections BC before 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on Final Voting Day. See the Vote by Mail page on the Elections BC website for more information.
The last opportunity to vote will be on Final Voting Day, Saturday, October 19. Voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time). Use the Where to Vote app to find voting places near you and the dates they are open.
Voters can register or update their information online or by calling 1-800-661-8683. Online and telephone voter registration closes at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) on Monday, October 7. Voters can still register or update their information when they vote.
