Christy Clark under fire at all-candidates' debate
B.C. premier, 8 other candidates squaring off in Westside-Kelowna byelection
CBC News Posted: Jul 5, 2013 8:04 AM PT Last Updated: Jul 5, 2013 8:05 AM PT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/07/05/bc-christy-clark-kelowna-debate.html?cmp=rss
B.C. Premier Christy Clark is running in a byelection in Westside Kelowna after
losing her Vancouver riding.(Canadian Press)
Around 400 people came out to hear MLA hopefuls, including B.C. Premier Christy
Clark, face off in the Westside-Kelowna byelection debate last night.
Many of the eight candidates attacked Clark, who has parachuted into the race
from Vancouver after losing her seat in the recent provincial election.
The NDP's Carole Gordon was especially critical of Clark's performance as
Premier.
"Unemployment is up in the Okanagan, 31,000 private sector jobs have been lost
in two years under Christy Clark's leadership. Twelve thousand more people have
left B.C. than have come here," she said.
"And we have the second slowest economic growth of any province under Christy
Clark's leadership. You can keep saying we have a strong economy, but we don't."
But Clark didn't attack her political opponents as she did in the spring
provincial election campaign, instead making a number of promises to grow the
economy in the riding, especially in the agriculture sector.
"Expand the tree fruit replant program so that it's more sustainable. A school
fruit and vegetable program, so that we can buy from local producers and
provide that to producers across British Columbia."
Clark also promised to work towards building a second bridge across Okanagan
Lake.
"Let's get to work on it now," she said. "If we can do it in the Lower
Mainland, we can do it here now. And I think that work here should start right
away."
Conservative candidate Sean Upshaw scoffed at that idea.
"Sometimes I wonder whether she is Christy Clark or Kris Kringle based on all
of the promises that she makes."
Five other candidates also participated in the debate, including four
independents and a Vision Party candidate.
The byelection is slated for next Wednesday.
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